by Jay Jarboe
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” 1 Samuel 3:10
I am finishing the third sabbatical of my 44 years in ministry. I requested my first one in a previous ministry. I knew I was tired, doubted my purpose, and questioned my effectiveness in ministry. Those three months gave me time to rest, reflect, and refocus, just as Jesus invited His disciples to do (Mark 6:31). In my current ministry, I just finished my second one-month sabbatical. I was blessed to walk part of the Camino de Santiago in Spain during my first leave. This last sabbatical, I stayed at home to rest, be present with my family, and experience God through listening prayer. It sounds simple. As a professional coach, one might assume I know a great deal about listening. As a spiritual coach who trains leaders, one would think prayer would come naturally. I have been challenged in my practice of both. During this sabbatical, I realized that listening to God is not a technique to master but a way of life to embrace.
Listening to God is not just a practice to develop; it is a lifestyle to cultivate. One of my earliest ministry experiences took place on the campus of Texas Tech University. At the time, I did not realize I was receiving some of the best hands-on mission training imaginable through godly mentors. The Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster had just been published the previous year. The book spoke to my mind and touched my heart, but it has taken years for its truths to become ingrained in my soul. It provided me with a rich foundation for exploring what is often called spiritual formation. These practices are described in Jesus’ words, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
Listening to God begins with listening to His Word. I seek God and ask Him to speak to me. Yet, I often found myself neglecting one of the primary ways He speaks to His people, through the written word, the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16). I grew up with an emphasis on knowing your Bible. I learned about Jesus, but I did not read to know Jesus. The reading we need to bring transformation doesn’t focus on knowing about God but knowing God (John 5:37-40).
Listening to God transforms my view of God and of myself. John Calvin described true and sound wisdom as possessing two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. When we listen to God’s word, it becomes a spiritual mirror that reveals our pride, selfishness, and hidden sins (James 1:23-25). God does not expose these areas to condemn us but to transform us. Spiritual growth occurs as we obey what He reveals, becoming doers of the Word rather than hearers only. As we continue to respond to His voice, the Holy Spirit gradually conforms us to the image of Christ, moving us from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The question is not whether God is speaking. The question is whether we have trained our hearts to listen. As servant leaders recover the discipline of spiritual attention, they will discover fresh wisdom, renewed clarity, and deeper faithfulness in the work to which God has called them. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
About the Author
Jay Jarboe is the Director of the Emerging Leadership Initiative at Mission Resource Network (MRN), a global network with the vision to multiply healthy leaders to disciple the unreached and under-served people groups of the world. He is a coach and mentor for global leaders with a focus on equipping them to multiply healthy leaders for future generations.
Before joining the ministry of MRN, Jay served as the Lead Minister for the Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas for five years. During his 25-year ministry with the Sunset Church of Christ and Sunset International Bible Institute (SIBI), Jay served the Director of the Adventures in Missions (AIM) program, an apprentice missionary training program, and as the Dean of Missions and instructor at SIBI.
He is married to Sherry, and they have two adult children and four grandchildren: Kenny, Meagan, Cash, and Adelaide Husband; Ryan, Mary, Oliver, and Lucy Jarboe. Jay and Sherry were missionaries in Mexico City and now they work with global workers, leaders, and churches around the world. His passion is seeking to be transformed into the image of Christ and helping others in that same quest.
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