Trusting God’s Voice When Others Disagree
- secretplacefaith
- Feb 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 14
Sometimes the hardest part of walking with God is not hearing His voice, but choosing to trust it when others do not. Scripture reminds us that discernment often stands alone while experience, confidence, and majority opinion speak loudly.
Trusting God’s Voice in Acts Chapter 27
In Acts chapter 27 Paul is on a journey. This is not a journey of pleasure. He is a prisoner bound for Italy. Paul was in the company of Julius, a centurion. Paul warns Julius and the crew of impending danger. He tells them if they continue ahead with the voyage as they intend great loss would lie in their path.
Paul was not the only one on the ship giving advice. Many voices floated through the air. The shipmaster and the ship owner among others. Julius heeded the shipmaster instead of Paul. He would have had much experience and skills in navigation. It's understandable why Julius would have chosen to listen to him instead of Paul. The owner of the ship had financial interest to worry about so he would have obviously wanted the voyage to continue no matter the cost. The majority of the ship voted to continue despite Paul's clear warning.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5–6
Trusting God’s Voice Versus Experience
Experience looked good in the moment but experience does not equal spiritual discernment. Paul had heard from God. He had walked with God long enough to know God’s voice and understand the gravity of not heading God’s warning. Everyone on the ship had confidence in the experience of those in charge. I'm sure the ship master had made this journey many times before. However, not even the ship master could see what lay ahead. The storm that awaited them was life changing.
Trusting God’s Voice as Women Walking with Christ
This portion of Paul's journey is a great example to remember as we women forge ahead in our journey with Christ. We must remember experience, great numbers, and confidence in no way compare to discernment from the Lord. Paul had heard from heaven. He knew what was right but those around him chose to disregard his wisdom. We can’t force others to walk close to God and seek discernment but we can choose to honor God, live the example with our life, and pray for others to do the same.
Trusting God’s Voice Through Obedience
Paul spoke the truth to those around him calmly and he lived what he believed. Those in control of the journey had a choice. They chose contrary to God’s instruction. Paul had no choice in his location but he had full control of his obedience to God.
Ladies, people will dismiss us. Even those closest to us, but we must stay obedient to God no matter the cost to our personal comfort. God gives us clear direction in His word; it's our job to choose to listen, follow through, and be the example that will lead others to Jesus.
I pray this encourages your heart and strengthens your walk with God.
If this post spoke to your heart and you’d like to press deeper in your prayer life, I’d love to invite you to explore Book 2 of my devotional series, Out Of The Ashes. It was written through the trials and struggles God used to shape my own journey of prayer. My prayer is that its words draw you closer to Him and remind you that everything God touches becomes beautiful.
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