If you’ve ever had so much earwax that you started wondering whether your head was secretly manufacturing candles for a side hustle, then friend, you are in good company. Recently I found myself in that exact predicament—both ears so clogged that even Granny’s Home Remedy (which usually involves olive oil, prayer, and a level of confidence not supported by medical science) didn’t make a dent. My hearing was so bad I kept asking people to repeat themselves, and they kept repeating themselves louder, and eventually everyone was shouting like we were reenacting the Battle of Jericho.
Finally, I surrendered and went to an ENT. The procedure was swift, humbling, and—let’s be honest—deeply satisfying. Suddenly the world was crisp again. Birds chirped. Paper rustled. I could hear my own footsteps.
But as I walked out of the office, ears squeaky clean and ego slightly bruised, I wondered: if our physical ears can get that stopped up, what about our spiritual ones?
Jesus once said, “People have eyes but do not see, and ears but do not hear.” I used to think He was being poetic. Now I think He may have been talking about spiritual cerumen—holy earwax, if you will.
Earwax doesn’t show up all at once. It builds slowly, quietly, sneakily—like dust bunnies or church committee meetings. One day you’re hearing fine, and the next you’re saying “Huh?” so often people think it’s your new spiritual gift.
Spiritual wax works the same way.
- A little pride here.
- A little resentment there.
- A dash of busyness, a sprinkle of distraction, a generous scoop of “I’ll pray later.”
Before long, the still, small voice of God sounds like it’s coming from the bottom of a well. And just like physical wax, spiritual wax is rarely solved by home remedies. We try:
- The Cotton Swab Method: “I’ll fix this myself.”
- The Essential Oil Method: “I bought something expensive; surely that counts as spiritual growth.”
- The Denial Method: “I’m fine. Everyone else is mumbling.”
But none of these clear the blockage. They just push it deeper.
After my ENT adventure, I learned that the best ear hygiene is simple: keep things clear, avoid sticking junk in there, and let the ear do what it was designed to do.
Spiritually, the same principles apply.
1. Stop sticking things in your ears.
You know the things—noise, hurry, outrage, comparison, doomscrolling, and the occasional YouTube prophet who predicted the end of the world last Tuesday. None of these help you hear God.
2. Let the Spirit do the cleaning.
Just as the ear naturally moves wax outward, the Holy Spirit gently brings our blockages to the surface—if we give Him space. Prayer, silence, Scripture, worship: these are the warm drops that soften the buildup.
3. Get professional help when needed.
Sometimes the blockage is too deep for DIY spirituality. That’s when we need pastors, counselors, trusted friends, or a good old-fashioned cometoJesus moment.
When the ENT finished, I was amazed at how loud the world was. I had forgotten what clarity sounded like.
When God clears our spiritual ears, the same thing happens. Suddenly Scripture speaks. Prayer feels alive. Worship vibrates in the bones. Conviction is gentle but unmistakable. And the voice of God—steady, loving, persistent—sounds like it’s been waiting patiently the whole time.
Maybe Jesus wasn’t scolding when He said people had ears but didn’t hear. Maybe He was diagnosing. Maybe He was inviting us to the Great Physician’s office for a little spiritual irrigation. And who knows—maybe when our ears are finally clear, we’ll hear Him say, “Welcome back. I’ve been talking to you this whole time.”
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