Navigating The Wilderness | Hearing God’s Voice in a Hard Season

We are living through a season of shaking and refining. Corruption is being exposed, people are hurting, cynicism is growing, and it can be incredibly easy to become consumed with everything that’s wrong around us.

But what if, while we’re examining everyone else, God is asking us to allow Him to examine our own hearts?

In this episode, Nicole talks about the subtle distractions that can keep us from hearing God clearly, the danger of allowing cynicism and unresolved pain to shape our discernment, and why we need humility in a season of exposure.

She also shares a striking dream about a church with a wilderness at its center and structures being burned to the ground—and what it caused her to consider about the dismantling and refining happening within the Church.

This isn’t about ignoring injustice or remaining silent about abuse. It’s about discerning what God has actually called us to carry, what we’re unnecessarily amplifying, and when something troubling us may be an invitation to intercede rather than react publicly.

Scriptures:

1 Peter 5:5–9

Philippians 4:8

Galatians 5:22–23

Connect at NicoleDelaney.com

What if God hasn’t stopped speaking—you’re simply learning to recognize His voice in a new way?

When you enter a wilderness or transition season, the ways you’ve been accustomed to hearing God may suddenly feel different. But that doesn’t necessarily mean He’s silent. What if part of the wilderness is learning to recognize the other ways He speaks?

In this episode of Navigating the Wilderness, Nicole explores how God communicates through Scripture, dreams, impressions, visions, prophecy, other people, music, patterns, circumstances, and the quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit.

You’ll hear about the importance of listening prayer, recognizing metaphor and symbolism, testing what you receive, recording what God highlights, and allowing Him to develop a personal language with you over time.

Sometimes revelation comes like puzzle pieces—one piece now, another months or even years later—until a larger picture begins to emerge.

If God feels quiet in your current season, perhaps the question isn’t only, “Why can’t I hear Him?” but also, “Lord, are You teaching me to hear You differently?”

Scriptures referenced and related passages:

John 10:5, 27; Romans 10:17; John 1:1, 14; 1 John 4:18; Isaiah 55:8–9; Genesis 41; Exodus 3:1–6; 1 Kings 19:11–13; Hosea 1–3; 1 Corinthians 13:9; 1 Corinthians 14:1–4; Luke 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21; Isaiah 43:19; Ephesians 3:20.

In this episode of Navigating the Wilderness, I’m talking about something many of us experience but may be afraid to admit: disappointment with God.

What happens when you’ve prayed, believed, waited and hoped—and your life still doesn’t look the way you thought it would?

For years, I wrestled with infertility and the grief of not becoming a mother. Along the way, I received well-meaning advice, prophetic words that didn’t come to pass, and repeated reasons to keep believing that eventually I would get the outcome I wanted. Over time, disappointment began affecting the way I saw God.

Then, during an unexpected journey to Israel, God began changing my perspective.

In this episode, I share the deeply personal story of how a painful Mother’s Day, an opportunity that seemed impossible, and five weeks studying in the land of the Bible helped me recognize something I hadn’t been able to see before: God’s plan for my life could look different from the one I had imagined—and still be good.

We’ll talk about grieving what hasn’t happened, surrendering the outcomes we’ve tried to control, questioning assumptions we’ve made about God, letting go of society’s timeline for our lives, and discovering that purpose isn’t limited to one particular life story.

If you’ve been waiting for marriage, children, healing, restoration, direction, breakthrough—or simply wondering why your life hasn’t unfolded the way you thought it would—I hope this conversation gives you permission to bring your disappointment honestly before God and ask Him to show you what you may not yet be able to see.

You are not forgotten. Your life is not less valuable because it looks different than someone else’s. And your story is not over.

Interested in coaching with Nicole? Check out more information at nicoledelaney.com

Scripture References

John 10:10

Romans 2:4

John 14:1–3

Luke 9:23

Isaiah 42:3

Isaiah 55:8–9

Ephesians 2:19

Romans 2:4

Romans 8:15–17

Ephesians 1:5

Sometimes the hardest seasons are the ones where nothing seems to be happening.

After a season of flourishing, many of us suddenly find ourselves in a spiritual dry season where God feels quiet, opportunities disappear, and we wonder if we’ve somehow missed His will.

In this episode, Nicole explores why wilderness seasons are a normal part of God’s work in our lives. Drawing from Scripture, the landscape of Israel, and her own journey through career transition and unexpected waiting, she shares how God often uses these seasons to reshape our identity, dismantle false beliefs, and prepare us for what’s ahead.

If you’ve ever questioned why God feels silent or wondered whether you’ve taken a wrong turn, this episode offers encouragement to keep trusting Him—even when the path doesn’t make sense.

Need support during your own wilderness season?

Coaching for women:

nicoledelaney.com

Email:

[email protected]

Seasons of flourishing aren’t just times to enjoy God’s blessings—they’re opportunities to learn how to steward them well.

In this episode, Nicole shares a personal story of God’s provision, reflects on the lessons learned during seasons of abundance, and explores how gratitude, generosity, humility, and wise stewardship prepare us for the wilderness seasons that inevitably come.

Whether you’re flourishing today or looking back wishing you’d handled a previous season differently, this episode offers biblical encouragement for every stage of the journey.

COACHING:

If you’re a woman walking through a major life transition and looking for biblical coaching and encouragement, learn more at:

nicoledelaney.com

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you feel trapped—misunderstood, falsely accused, or unable to defend yourself without making things worse?

In this episode, Nicole shares a vivid dream that became a powerful picture of what it feels like to be surrounded by gossip, slander, and opposition. Through the example of Jesus and the words of Peter, she explores how God forms Christlike character in us during seasons when our only refuge is Him.

If you’re navigating rejection, misunderstanding, or a season where you feel alone, this conversation offers biblical encouragement to keep your heart soft, trust God’s justice, and remain anchored in His peace.

Scripture References

Navigating the Wilderness is a podcast for those walking through seasons of transition, learning to hear God’s voice, and discovering His faithfulness even when the path ahead isn’t clear.

🌿 Work With Me

If you’re a woman navigating a season of transition and you’re looking for someone to walk alongside you, I offer one-on-one coaching designed to help you find clarity, hear God’s direction, and move forward with confidence.

Learn more at https://nicoledelaney.com

Growth isn’t always comfortable.

Sometimes the very season where God is opening new doors is also the season where you experience the most resistance. You may feel stretched beyond your capacity, battle imposter syndrome, or wonder why opposition seems to increase just as things begin moving forward.

In this episode of Navigating the Wilderness, I explore what Scripture teaches about seasons of growth, why opposition often accompanies them, and how God uses those challenges to deepen our dependence on Him.

I’ll also share a personal story from my own career about stepping into an unexpected opportunity, facing workplace opposition, and discovering God’s faithfulness in the middle of it.

In this episode we discuss:

• How growing seasons differ from wilderness seasons

• Why opposition often comes with new opportunities

• The lessons Israel’s Promised Land teaches us about dependence on God

• What Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” can teach us about weakness and grace

• Finding confidence when you feel stretched beyond your abilities

• Learning to recognize God’s faithfulness in every season

No matter what season you’re in, my hope is that this conversation encourages you to trust God’s work in your life and embrace the growth He’s leading you through.

If this episode encourages you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who needs hope today.

🌿 Learn more at: NicoleDelaney.com

Have you ever reached a point where something you once loved no longer feels like it fits?

Sometimes the hardest part of a new season isn’t knowing what to do next—it’s finding the courage to let go of what has been familiar.

In this episode, I share the story of one of the biggest transitions in my own life as I walked away from a career I loved after years of unexpected change. Looking through the lens of Israel’s agricultural seasons, we’ll explore why pruning often comes before new growth, how God begins planting new desires in our hearts before we see the full picture, and why letting go is often part of preparing us for what’s ahead.

If you’re sensing that something is shifting in your life, wondering why the things that once fulfilled you no longer do, or trying to discern God’s timing in a season of transition, I hope this conversation encourages you to trust Him one step at a time.

In this episode, we’ll talk about:

• Why God often prepares us for a new season before revealing the destination

• How to recognize the signs that you’re entering a season of pruning and planting

• My personal story of leaving a career I loved and learning to trust God with the unknown

• Why letting go creates room for new growth

• The importance of God’s timing during seasons of transition

I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever experienced a season where God asked you to let go before showing you what was next? 

Connect with me at nicoledelaney.com 

Have you ever wondered why one season of life feels full of growth while another feels dry, confusing, or painfully slow?

In this episode, we're looking at the seasons of life through the landscape of Israel rather than the Western calendar. The Bible was written in a very different climate, and that backdrop gives us a richer understanding of how God works through seasons of planting, pruning, growth, harvest, and wilderness.

Drawing from what I learned while studying in Israel, we'll explore what each season reveals about God's character, what He may be accomplishing beneath the surface, and the unique opportunities and cautions that come with each one.

Whether you're in a season of hidden preparation, rapid growth, abundant fruit, or walking through a wilderness that seems to have no end, my prayer is that this episode helps you recognize where you are, partner with what God is doing, and find hope for the road ahead.

I'd love to hear from you—which season do you feel you're in right now? Share your thoughts in the comments, and if this episode encouraged you, please subscribe and share it with someone who may need it.

Timestamps

00:52 Pace Versus Pressure

02:38 Seasons Of Life Intro

03:48 Fall Planting And Pruning

07:09 Winter Rains And Growth

08:52 Spring Flourishing And Favor

10:17 Summer Wilderness Lessons

13:26 Reflect And Next Steps

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NicoleDelaney01

Check my website NicoleDelaney.com to sign up for my newsletter or for more information on coaching

After a long break, Navigating the Wilderness is back.

In this first episode of Season 2, I'm sharing why I stepped away from the podcast, what life has looked like behind the scenes over the past year, and why I felt it was time to return.

The last several months have brought significant transition, unexpected challenges, loss, and a season of pruning that forced me to reevaluate what truly matters. In this episode, I reflect on what I've been learning about identity, purpose, and trusting God when the path ahead isn't entirely clear.

I also share how my vision for the podcast has evolved and why I feel increasingly drawn to conversations around transition, identity, and discovering who God created us to be. Sometimes the wilderness isn't just a difficult season—it's the place where false identities fall away and we begin to see ourselves more clearly through God's eyes.

Whether you're facing a major life transition, feeling stuck in the in-between, or simply trying to discern your next step, I hope this conversation encourages you.

I'd love to hear from you. What topics would you like to hear discussed in Season 2? Reach out and let me know.

Timestamps

00:00 Season Two Welcome