God Still Speaks

I want to start today with a question. It’s simple, but it cuts to the heart:

“Is God still speaking? And if so, are we listening?”

In Jeremiah 23, the people of Israel were surrounded by noise. Competing voices. Smooth-talking prophets. Religious leaders claiming to speak for God but whose words didn’t line up with God’s heart. Sound familiar?

We’re not in ancient Israel, but let’s be honest, we’ve got our own fair share of spiritual noise. Podcasts, YouTube preachers, social media opinions, religious slogans. Everyone’s got a word from the Lord, but not all of it reflects God’s character. And when the noise gets loud, it’s hard to hear the true voice of the One who made us.

So let’s open the Word together. Jeremiah 23:23–29 is God’s mic-drop moment. He says: “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?”

...“Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”

This is a warning and a promise. And it raises three big truths we’ve got to wrestle with:

The first truth is: God Is Not Distant—He’s Personal and Present

Jeremiah 23:23 says: “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away?” Have you ever felt like God was far away? Like He was somewhere up in the sky, watching from a distance but not really involved in the day-to-day mess of your life?

Maybe it was during a tough season—when the diagnosis came, when the job disappeared, when the relationship ended. Or maybe it was during a time of quietness, when your prayers seemed to bounce off the ceiling. You wonder, Is God even listening? Is He close? Does He care? If you've ever asked those questions, you're not alone.

In Jeremiah 23, God speaks directly to this feeling. His people were surrounded by prophets and religious leaders who were saying all sorts of things about Him, but many of them had lost sight of who God really was. So God clears things up Himself. He asks, “Am I only a God nearby... and not a God far away?” What a powerful question.

He’s reminding them, and us, that He is not confined to certain spaces. He’s not just a “local deity” who lives in the temple or shows up on holy days. He’s not limited to Sunday morning worship or silent retreats.

God is everywhere. He is both near and far. He fills heaven and earth. There’s no part of your life that’s off-limits to Him. We tend to think of God in two ways: either He’s far-off and unknowable, or He’s right beside us like a spiritual buddy. But God is both infinitely big and intensely personal.

He is powerful enough to create galaxies, and gentle enough to comfort you in the middle of the night. He holds the stars in His hands and yet knows the number of hairs on your head. When you’re stuck in traffic, God is there.

When you’re doing dishes, God is there. When you’re crying in your car, unsure how you’re going to make it through the day. God is right there with you.

Look at verse 24: “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” God isn’t asking that to scare us. He’s not saying, “I’m watching you…don’t mess up!”

He’s saying, “You’re never alone, not even in the hidden places.” That’s incredibly comforting.

Have you ever tried to hide your real self from someone? Maybe from your family, your friends, your church? You put on a smile. You act like everything’s fine. But deep down, you’re hurting or doubting or just plain exhausted.

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to fake it with God. He already sees the parts of you that no one else does…the fear, the anger, the wounds, the questions. And He doesn’t turn away. He draws closer. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Not only does God see you, He wants to be near you in your pain. He’s not waiting for you to clean up your act or get it all together. He’s present right now, just as you are.

One of the biggest misunderstandings about God is that He lives at church. That His presence is limited to stained-glass windows, padded pews, or a well-worded sermon. But Jeremiah reminds us: God fills heaven and earth. That means God is just as present in your living room as He is in the sanctuary. Just as active in your workplace as He is during Sunday worship. Just as available in your quiet walk as in a prayer meeting. You don’t need perfect conditions to meet with God. You just need a heart that’s open.