What Has You Doubting Your Discernment? 3 Reasons You Might Be Second-Guessing God’s Voice

Introduction: Is It Fear — or Is It Discernment?

Sometimes we write off discernment as being fearful, suspicious, or overly cautious. But if you’re anything like me, you may have dismissed the wisdom of discernment in order to “give the benefit of the doubt.” Only to discover later that the quiet nudge you felt was God trying to give you divine insight.

As daughters of God, we must learn to trust that He is our source — and the spiritual resources He’s equipped us with are effective. Our greatest resource is the Holy Spirit, and one of the most powerful gifts He gives us is discernment.

After I posted a short clip from the latest episode of the Bold Becomers Podcast, someone reached out and asked:
“Can you help me with the gift of discernment?”

That question took me back to the version of myself who used to wrestle with doubt — and I felt compelled to write this for the brave Bold Becomer who may be feeling the same way.

So here are 3 reasons why you might be doubting discernment — and how to start honoring the Spirit of God that’s leading you.

Reason #1: You Shrug Off Discernment as Ordinary or “Weird”

I gave my life to Christ at a young age — five years old, to be exact. I was eager to know and love God, but I still had so much growing to do, both naturally and spiritually. Back then, I didn’t know what discernment was, but I clearly remember having vivid dreams and visions that would later come to pass.

At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I’d share those dreams with others and they’d say, “Oh, that’s just déjà vu.” I didn’t yet know how to take what God revealed to me back to Him in prayer, so I defaulted to outside opinions — often from people who weren’t yet rooted in the Word. Eventually, I began to think those dreams were just strange coincidences.

Maybe you’ve had moments like that — when discernment speaks to you and you just think, “That was weird,” or “I don’t know what that was about.”

Let me encourage you to do something different:
Start acknowledging what was sent to you.

Here’s a 3-step process to begin:

1. Take Notice

Write it down — in a journal, a note on your phone, or even a voice memo. Pay attention to what stirred in your spirit.

2. Take It to God

Bring it into your prayer time. Ask the Lord for clarity if the message feels ambiguous, or for wisdom on how to apply what you sensed.

3. Thank Him for It

Practice gratitude for what He revealed. According to James 1:5 (KJV), “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally…” When you recognize that He’s generous with His wisdom, you begin to see yourself as a trusted recipient.

Reason #2: You’re in Your Head

As a classic overthinker, I know this one deeply. Most of the times I’ve doubted discernment, it’s because I spent too much time trying to “figure it out” or “get it right.”

I’d analyze what I thought I heard in the Spirit:
“This doesn’t make sense.”
“What if I’m just being dramatic?”
“What if I embarrass myself?”

Sound familiar?

We say we’re ready to follow God, and we mean it — but we don’t get to dictate what obedience looks like. When discernment nudges us to take action, whether that’s offering a word of encouragement to a stranger or stepping away from a situation, we often focus on how it will be received instead of simply obeying.

What to Do Instead: Move by Faith

Moving by faith means acting on the best understanding of what you sensed in your spirit — even when the outcome is unclear. Obedience doesn’t always bring immediate validation, but it always produces fruit.

If you’ve obeyed and felt like you “got it wrong,” I want to remind you:
You didn’t fail — you followed.
And God honors faith-filled obedience, even when the results aren’t what you expected. “All things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28 KJV) — including the steps you took in faith.

Reason #3: The Echoes Are Louder Than the Whispers

Here’s what I mean by echoes:
Old criticism.
Judgment from others.
Unhealed wounds.
Your past failures or regrets.

I remember trying to trust my discernment again after leaving a toxic relationship. The inner doubt was loud. It felt like, “Can I even trust myself to hear from God anymore?”

Here’s the truth:
Those echoes aren’t from God — they’re from the enemy.
He wants to drown out the whispers of the Holy Spirit with noise, shame, and confusion. But you need to know this:

God made no mistake when He gave you His Spirit.
He gave you the best part of Himself because He trusted the vessel He poured it into — you.

When the echoes get loud, you have to turn up the truth:
“I am chosen.”
“I hear His voice.”
“I was made to be a vessel of honor.”

As you begin to honor the gift of discernment, God will be glorified — and you will begin to walk in deeper confidence and clarity.

Want More? Listen to the Episode: Discernment Is Real

<p id="<ul>—<li><a-href="-reason1">1.-You-Shrug-Off-Discernment-as-Ordinary-or-“Weird”</a></li>—<li><a-href="-reason2">2.-You’re-in-Your-Head</a></li>—<li><a-href="-reason3">3.-The-Echoes-Are-Louder-Than-the-Whispers</a></li>-If this spoke to you, I encourage you to take the next step and tune in to my latest podcast episode:
🎙 Discernment Is Real – The Bold Becomers Podcast

In this episode, I dive deeper into how discernment shows up, what keeps us from trusting it, and how we can boldly follow God even when it doesn’t make sense. You’ll also hear how I learned to stop dismissing what the Holy Spirit was revealing — and start honoring it instead.

🔗 Related posts you might also like:

Final Encouragement

Bold Becomer, you can trust your discernment.
You’re not imagining things — you’re perceiving what others may not be able to see.
And that’s not just sensitivity — it’s spiritual insight.

God is still speaking.
The question is — will you honor the voice that’s been trying to lead you all along?

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