Hearing God Through Emotions and Intuition in Everyday Faith
Can I tell you something? For years, I thought hearing God was just for the spiritual superheroes - pastors, prophets, the people who always seem so sure. But what if I told you that hearing God through emotions is actually for all of us? It’s right there in the mess of our day-to-day feelings, in those ordinary moments when we listen up instead of tuning out.
This is something we explored in our recent podcast episode about hearing God's voice in everyday moments. I sat down with my friend Alana and we talked about all the ways God gets our attention, deepen our relationship with God. We realized, most of us have never been taught that God speaks through emotions too. We might hear about hearing God through His Word or through a strong inner knowing, but no one really tells us that your feelings might be God’s way of knocking on your heart.
Let me just get real, finding hope after loss. When was the last time you trusted your gut, only to wonder – was that God, or just me? You’re not alone Finding Faith After Loss. I’ve been there so many times, finding purpose in suffering. Let’s look at some practical ways to recognize God’s voice among all the feels, and discover how hearing God through emotions can actually help us walk in His purpose.
How Does Hearing God Through Emotions Actually Work?
Maybe you’ve been told to stuff your feelings down; consider spiritual self-care tips for building strength in difficult seasons. I know I have. The problem is, when we turn down our emotions, we’re also turning down one of the ways God talks to us. In my own story, there were years when I ignored every twinge of sacred gut feeling, thinking it was just hormones or stress or being "too much." But when I finally stopped and paid attention, what I found was God speaking in ways I never expected Finding God in Hard Times.
Here’s the thing. Hearing God through emotions means understanding that He wired us for more than rational thought. We serve a God who created laughter, tears, that mid-afternoon uneasiness that won’t let up until you check on a friend. These feelings are messengers that remind us to practice gratitude practices for healing. Sometimes they alert us to care for ourselves, self-care tips for hard times. Sometimes they nudge us to act for someone else, spiritual encouragement through handwritten notes. And sometimes, they draw us back to Him, trusting God through waiting.
The Four Ways We Hear: Seeing, Hearing, Knowing, and Feeling
In the podcast, Alana shared a study called prophetic personalities. It breaks down the different ways we might hear from God - some of us "see" pictures or dreams, some "hear" words, some "just know," and some "feel" deeply. For me, the feeling one hit home. It took years to believe that those inner tugs, the lump in my throat, or even those tears that come out of nowhere, could be God speaking.
Maybe you’re a feeler too. That doesn’t mean every emotion is from God, but it does mean some are. And learning to sort through them is part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. If you are wondering if you can start hearing God through emotions, the answer is yes. And you don’t have to get it perfect right away.
How to Start Hearing God Through Emotions Every Day
Let’s get practical. Some days I feel all the things. Other days I want to numb out and avoid every feeling. But here’s how I’ve learned to tune in when I sense God nudging me through my emotions. And yes, these are things Alana and I have seen work over and over again - for us and for the women God’s put in our lives.
Slow Down and Name What You’re Feeling
Does it ever feel like your emotions hit you out of nowhere? Stop and ask, "God, is this from You?" Is this feeling mine? Or is it something for someone else? Sometimes I pause and pray, "God, what do You want me to know about this?"
Being honest is the beginning. Before you try to figure it all out, just acknowledge what’s there. God isn’t afraid of your mess. In fact, sometimes He’s right in the middle of it, using it to draw you closer.
Compare Your Feelings With God’s Word
A mentor once told me, “God will never speak something that doesn’t line up with Scripture.” If a feeling points to love, peace, patience, kindness – that’s a green light. If it brings condemnation, shame, or isolation, that’s a red flag. There’s actual freedom here, because you’re not left guessing. In the podcast, I shared that double-checking your feelings against the heart of God always grows discernment.
One passage that always helps me filter my feelings is from Romans 12:2 in the CSB, "Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." That's not about ignoring feelings. It's about inviting God to sort them out.
Ask Trusted Friends for Perspective
Let’s be real. There are days when I can’t tell up from down emotionally. That’s when you lean into community. Alana reminded us that God almost never asks us to walk alone. When something weighs on my heart, I share it with women I trust. They listen, they pray, and sometimes they’ve heard the same thing. That’s how God confirms things so you’re not trying to figure out hearing God through emotions all by yourself.
- Reach out to a friend or your small group
- Ask, “Have you ever felt this when God was trying to get your attention?”
- Pray with someone – even one person
There’s something so comforting in knowing our emotions connect us. We get to help each other discern what God is saying for us, not just to us.
What Do I Do With These Feelings? Discernment and Action
Some of us worry – what if I get it wrong? But hearing God through emotions isn’t about never getting messy. It’s about being honest and humble enough to ask, listen, and then take the next right step. Alana talked about asking, “God, is this something for just me, or do I need to share it? Do I pray, or do I go talk with someone?”
Tips for Discernment
- Pray first – even a simple, "Lord, help me understand."
- Check it with Scripture
- Bring it to wise, godly friends
- Pay attention to timing – not every prompting needs instant action
- If it brings peace, that’s another sign God is in it
Can I encourage you? There’s space to make mistakes. God isn’t keeping score. He is patient as we practice hearing Him, even through emotions. The more I’ve practiced, the easier it’s been to recognize what His nudge feels like versus my own emotional rollercoaster.
Real Life: Recognizing God’s Voice in Your Emotional World
I remember times when hearing God through emotions made me pause, change plans, or text a friend at just the right moment. Sometimes I’ll get weepy out of nowhere. That’s usually a gentle push to pray for someone. Other times, I get a tightness in my chest or a wave of hope I can’t explain. Over time, I’ve learned not to ignore these moments.
Maybe you’ve experienced this too. Maybe you’re not crazy after all. Maybe it’s the Spirit speaking. In our community, we’ve seen countless stories of women who followed a feeling and ended up right in the middle of God’s plan. That’s not random. That’s relationship.
How Do I Mature in This Area?
Every day offers a chance to grow. You don’t need a 10-step system. You just need to take the next right step and trust God to lead. Practice makes progress, not perfection. Here are a few ways to grow:
- Keep a journal – jot down what you sensed and what happened.
- Pray specifically: “Lord, help me know which feelings are from You.”
- Stay in the Word to renew your mind
- Stay planted in community – don’t isolate
- Ask for help when you feel overwhelmed
If you need a place to start, look for one step. Reach out to someone. Read a short devotional. Share one feeling with God today. That’s enough. He can handle our mess and our questions.
How Hearing God Through Emotions Transforms Our Community
I love how our community is growing in this. When we talk about hearing God through emotions, we’re learning to trust Him and each other more. We’re building a culture where emotions are not enemies but instruments for God’s goodness.
We help each other discern, pray for one another, and remind each other of what’s true. We grow together. If you want to hear more, you can always connect in our Made Whole Community. There’s room for you there.
Let’s Walk This Together
My hope for you is simple. That you would know God wants to meet you in your honest feelings. You don’t have to get it perfect. You just have to be willing. Let God use your emotions as another way to draw you close and send you out in love.
Let’s practice hearing God through emotions, in the everyday mess and miracles. We’re not alone. As we grow, we create space for God’s voice to shape not just our hearts, but our whole community.
If this encouraged you, go listen to the full podcast episode on hearing God’s voice. Share it with a friend who is learning to tune in with you. Even small shifts in perspective can turn into huge faith steps over time. You’re doing better than you think. Take heart – God’s near, and He’s speaking.
