When God Tries to Get Our Attention
Have you ever had moments where life seemed to be moving along, and then something happened that stopped you in your tracks? It’s as if God was saying, “Slow down. Look at Me.” These moments may come through trials, gentle whispers, or divine interruptions that shake us from our routine. In His love, God often tries to get our attention, not to punish us but to draw us closer to Him.
Throughout the Bible, we see God’s relentless pursuit of His people. He uses many ways to speak to us, guide us, and remind us of His presence. The key is being willing to listen, recognize His voice, and respond in faith.
Here are a few powerful ways God gets our attention, as revealed in Scripture:
1. Through Unusual Circumstances: Moses and the Burning Bush
One of the most famous examples of God grabbing someone’s attention is the story of Moses. Moses was going about his daily life, shepherding his father-in-law’s flock, when he encountered something extraordinary: a bush on fire, yet it wasn’t consumed. Exodus 3:2-4 says:
“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.’ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’”
God used something as unusual as a burning bush to stop Moses in his tracks. It was only after Moses turned aside to look that God spoke to him. Sometimes, God places unusual circumstances in our lives to get our attention, inviting us to “turn aside” from our busy routines and pay attention to what He is doing. Have you experienced any “burning bush” moments—something out of the ordinary that caused you to pause and seek God?
2. Through a Gentle Whisper: Elijah’s Encounter with God
Sometimes, God doesn’t shout to get our attention. Instead, He speaks in a still, small voice. After the prophet Elijah experienced great victory over the prophets of Baal, he found himself hiding in fear. He was overwhelmed, discouraged, and unsure of what to do next. But God had a plan to draw Elijah back into His presence. 1 Kings 19:11-12 describes how God revealed Himself:
“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
Elijah expected God in the big, dramatic moments, but it was in the gentle whisper that God spoke to him. Sometimes, in the chaos of life, we expect God to show up in grand ways, but often He comes to us in quiet moments, inviting us to draw near and listen closely. Have you ever felt God’s gentle whisper, nudging you toward His presence?
3. Through Dreams and Visions: Joseph and His Divine Dreams
God often communicates through dreams and visions, as He did with Joseph. Joseph received dreams from God that not only foretold his future but also revealed God’s divine plan for his family and the nation of Israel. Genesis 37:5 tells us:
“Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.”
While Joseph’s journey wasn’t easy—his dreams led to jealousy and betrayal—God was working behind the scenes. Through dreams, God revealed His plan to preserve His people during a great famine. Similarly, God may get our attention through dreams, giving us glimpses of His plans or warnings to guide us. Have you ever experienced God communicating through a dream or vision?
4. Through Life’s Trials: Jonah’s Time in the Belly of a Fish
One of the more dramatic examples of God grabbing someone’s attention through a trial is the story of Jonah. God called Jonah to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh, but Jonah ran in the opposite direction. It wasn’t until Jonah found himself in the belly of a great fish, swallowed by a sea creature, that he finally turned his heart toward God. Jonah 2:1-2 says:
“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: ‘In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.’”
Sometimes, when we resist God’s call, He allows us to face storms and trials to bring us back to Him. Jonah’s trial in the belly of the fish led him to a place of repentance and renewed obedience. Are you facing a trial that God might be using to draw you closer to Him?
5. Through People: Nathan Confronts King David
God often sends others to speak into our lives and get our attention, as He did when He sent the prophet Nathan to confront King David after his sin with Bathsheba. David had strayed far from God’s commands, but God used Nathan to bring him to repentance. 2 Samuel 12:7 says:
“Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.’”
Nathan’s boldness led David to acknowledge his sin and seek God’s forgiveness. Sometimes, God will use people in our lives—friends, mentors, or even strangers—to speak truth into our situations and lead us back to Him. Is there someone in your life who may be trying to point you back to God?
God’s pursuit of us is relentless and loving. He desires a close relationship with each of us and will use whatever means necessary to get our attention. Whether through a burning bush, a gentle whisper, a dream, a trial, or another person, God is always speaking.
The question is: Are we listening?
Take a moment today to reflect on the ways God may be trying to capture your attention. Ask Him to open your eyes and ears to His voice, and be willing to respond when He calls.
A Prayer for Attentiveness to God’s Voice
Heavenly Father,
I come before You today, acknowledging that You are always seeking to draw me closer to You. I thank You for Your relentless love and for the many ways You try to get my attention. Whether through whispers, circumstances, or even trials, You are always speaking, inviting me to trust You more deeply.
Lord, open my eyes to see where You are at work in my life. Open my ears to hear Your voice, even in the stillness. Help me to recognize the moments when You are calling me to pause, reflect, and turn my heart toward You. When distractions or busyness pull me away, remind me that You are patiently waiting, always near.
When life feels overwhelming, or when I’m tempted to run in the opposite direction like Jonah, help me to remember that Your ways are good, and Your plans for me are perfect. Teach me to trust You, even when I don’t understand. Guide me through every trial, and use each one to bring me closer to Your heart.
Thank You for loving me so deeply. I surrender my life to You, asking that You lead me in Your ways and help me to remain attentive to Your voice.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.