Hearing God When It Hurts: Choosing Truth Over Comfort

Learning from Jehoshaphat, Ahab, and Micaiah to Follow God Beyond Our Preferences

Scripture Reference: – 2 Chronicles 18:6-7

But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?” And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”

Introduction – “The Power of Pausing: Seeking God Before Acting”

The Scriptures provide countless examples of leaders and ordinary people who struggled with hearing God’s voice when it conflicted with their own desires. One of the most striking is found in 2 Chronicles 18, where Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and Ahab, king of Israel, navigate a pivotal moment in Israel’s history. This chapter offers both a historical narrative and timeless spiritual lessons. It illustrates the danger of seeking only affirmation and the profound blessings of pursuing truth, no matter how uncomfortable.

Jehoshaphat, a king generally known for his godliness, is faced with a unique challenge. He is invited by Ahab to join him in a military campaign against Ramoth-gilead. While Jehoshaphat’s heart is aligned with God’s law and righteousness, he is still a human ruler, navigating alliances and politics in a fallen world. Ahab, in contrast, is notorious for his idolatry and self-interest, often leading Israel astray under the influence of Jezebel. Their interaction in this chapter exposes the tension between human desire and divine direction.

The narrative begins with Ahab summoning 400 prophets, all of whom predict success in the battle. Their voices align perfectly with the king’s desires. In the human mind, this seems to validate the plan—yet the Scriptures clarify that their words were not God-inspired. Rather, they reflected the king’s wish to hear good news, ignoring the truth of his imminent judgment.

Jehoshaphat, however, exercises discernment. Despite the overwhelming consensus of these 400 prophets, he asks, “Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?” (2 Chronicles 18:6). Here, Jehoshaphat models spiritual wisdom: he does not conform to popular opinion. He seeks God’s perspective, not the comfortable voice of flattery or affirmation. This single act reveals a principle that resonates powerfully in our own spiritual lives: God’s truth often contradicts our desires, and hearing it requires courage.

Micaiah, the son of Imlah, emerges as the lone prophet who will deliver the message Ahab least wants to hear: he is destined to die in this battle. Micaiah’s role is emblematic of every true prophet in Scripture, from Samuel to Jeremiah to John the Baptist: they speak what God commands, not what human ears prefer. The uncomfortable truth Micaiah delivers is rejected by Ahab, yet it represents the divine wisdom that always leads to life when obeyed and to destruction when ignored.

Historically, this story also reflects the broader spiritual climate of the time. Israel and Judah were kingdoms navigating idolatry, political instability, and moral compromise. Prophets often faced hostility for delivering messages that challenged rulers’ ambitions. Figures such as Elijah, Isaiah, and Amos were ignored, imprisoned, or threatened for speaking God’s unvarnished truth. As Spurgeon once observed, “A faithful servant of God will often be hated by the world, not because he errs, but because he speaks the truth that exposes error.”

In the human heart, the tension between hearing God’s truth and seeking approval is timeless. Even believers today struggle with the temptation to listen selectively to Scripture—embracing comforting promises of love, forgiveness, and blessing while ignoring the calls to repentance, self-denial, and perseverance in suffering. Like Ahab, we often desire the positive and reject the correction that will save us from folly.

The backdrop of this story reminds us that listening to God requires courage, discernment, and obedience. Jehoshaphat’s example offers a template: seek voices aligned with God’s will, even when they challenge our comfort. Micaiah’s role teaches that God’s truth is always faithful, even if unpleasant. And Ahab’s fate serves as a warning: ignoring God’s correction can lead to ruin, regardless of the allure of agreement and affirmation from others.

In prison, these lessons are magnified. The environment often amplifies human pride, impatience, and the desire to hear what gratifies rather than what transforms. Believers are confronted daily with choices: to obey the Word of God faithfully, even when it brings inconvenience, correction, or hardship, or to follow the voices that simply affirm comfort, survival instincts, or self-interest. This story, when applied to the incarcerated believer, becomes a guide for spiritual discernment, courage, and faithfulness in a setting where the stakes are magnified by isolation and adversity. 

Main Point #1 – The Danger of Hearing Only What We Want

The story begins with the 400 prophets who uniformly predict success for Ahab. These prophets mirror what Ahab wants to hear. This illustrates a critical spiritual principle: human beings naturally prefer messages that gratify their desires rather than challenge their sin or pride.

From a historical perspective, Ahab’s court prophets are emblematic of flatterers throughout Scripture. Their uniform message of assurance serves political and personal convenience, not divine truth. Human leaders, and indeed all believers, are often surrounded by voices that cater to their ego. Spurgeon frequently warned, “Men will always find counselors to speak what they love to hear; the difficulty is to find one who speaks the truth that must be obeyed.”

The danger is twofold. First, hearing only what we want to hear cultivates spiritual blindness. Ahab perceives assurance, yet the reality of God’s judgment is ignored. Second, it fosters moral complacency. Repeated exposure to affirmation without correction conditions the soul to mistake comfort for guidance.

For prisoners, this lesson is particularly poignant. Incarcerated believers may surround themselves with peers who echo their perspectives, validate their grievances, or excuse spiritual compromise. These voices can become spiritual mirrors, reflecting personal desires rather than God’s will. The question becomes: whose counsel do we trust—the voice that pleases us or the voice that faithfully conveys God’s Word?

James 1:22–25 reminds believers not merely to hear the Word but to act on it. Hearing alone, especially selective hearing, produces no transformation. It is obedience in response to God’s truth, not human affirmation, that ensures growth and deliverance.

Main Point #2 – The Value of Seeking Godly Counsel

Jehoshaphat exemplifies wisdom by asking if there is another prophet of the LORD. Unlike Ahab, Jehoshaphat is willing to pursue correction, even when it might challenge his comfort or political alliance. This shows that true discernment requires humility and intentionality.

Historical commentators, including John Calvin, highlight Jehoshaphat’s courage. Calvin notes, “He did not conform to the multitude, but sought to hear God’s voice, not the voice of flattery or fear.” Humility allows believers to identify voices of true discernment amid a chorus of agreement.

In prison, seeking godly counsel is equally vital. Believers may have limited access to pastors or mentors, yet even in confinement, Scripture, devotional materials, and spiritual correspondence offer guidance. The principle is simple: seek counsel aligned with God’s Word, not your preference for comfort.

This point underscores that discernment is active. Believers must evaluate voices critically, comparing every message with the Word of God. Those who seek confirmation for personal desires alone risk repeating Ahab’s fatal mistake. 

Main Point #3 – The Cost of Rejecting God’s Correction

Micaiah’s prophecy is stark: Ahab will die if he proceeds with the battle. Ahab ignores this warning, valuing human affirmation over divine instruction. Here lies a profound spiritual truth: rejecting God’s correction is costly, often fatally so.

Historical accounts of faithful prophets, from Samuel to Jeremiah, confirm this pattern. God’s truth often confronts pride, selfish ambition, and misplaced trust. In rejecting it, leaders and believers alike experience spiritual or physical consequences. Luther emphasized, “God’s Word is a hammer to break, not a lullaby to soothe.”

In prison, the lesson is practical. Ignoring God’s correction manifests in continued sin, relational conflict, or spiritual stagnation. Recognizing and obeying divine correction, even when it is unpleasant, cultivates spiritual maturity, endurance, and alignment with God’s plan. 

Main Point #4 – Obedience Requires Courage Over Comfort

Micaiah delivers the truth; obedience demands courage. The cost of ignoring divine correction is visible in Ahab’s death, but the reward for obedience is preservation, spiritual growth, and alignment with God’s purposes.

Spurgeon once stated, “It is always the harder truth that produces the richest fruit.” To act in accordance with God’s Word, especially when it challenges our comfort, requires courage and faith.

For prisoners, courage often manifests in small, daily choices: choosing honesty over deception, restraint over anger, or prayer over despair. These acts of obedience are the visible and invisible expressions of faith that lead to eventual deliverance.

Prison Application 

Hearing God’s Word in prison is both a challenge and a necessity. The environment, by its very nature, amplifies the temptation to seek comfort and affirmation rather than truth. Many men behind bars find it easier to gravitate toward messages that soothe pride, justify past mistakes, or reinforce survival instincts rather than confront sin, call for repentance, or demand obedience.

Like Ahab, it is tempting to surround ourselves with voices that tell us what we want to hear. Whether it is other inmates who share a distorted sense of morality, or even prisoners’ versions of Scripture applied selectively, the risk is the same: hearing without transformation. James 1:22–25 reminds us that God is not satisfied with selective listening.

The Word is to penetrate the heart, command the conscience, and spur action. Hearing the Word without doing it is self-deception. In prison, this is especially dangerous, as spiritual compromise can take hold quickly, often under the guise of peer conformity or despair.

Jehoshaphat’s approach, on the other hand, provides a model for disciplined spiritual discernment. He did not allow the majority opinion of 400 prophets to dictate his spiritual choices. He sought the one prophet aligned with God’s voice. In prison, we are called to do the same. The “voices” may not be literal prophets, but Scripture, godly mentors, devotional materials, and even correspondence from faithful believers outside these walls serve as the prophetic guidance God uses to direct our steps. Believers must exercise discernment, asking themselves: Is this advice rooted in God’s Word, or is it simply convenient for my emotions or circumstances?

Obedience in the cell often means small but significant acts. Choosing honesty over deception, maintaining integrity in relationships with staff and other inmates, and resisting gossip or prideful boasting—all reflect the principle of being doers of the Word, not just hearers. These acts, while seemingly minor, are often what God uses to refine character and cultivate spiritual maturity. In a place where human approval is limited or absent, obedience becomes an act of faith: a demonstration of trust in God’s oversight even when no one else observes or affirms it.

Another practical element of prison obedience is responding to correction. Just as Ahab rejected Micaiah’s warning, prisoners can reject admonishment from chaplains, mentors, or even Scripture itself when it exposes a hidden sin or character flaw. Each rejection of God’s correction is a missed opportunity for growth and a step toward greater frustration or failure. Conversely, embracing correction, no matter how uncomfortable, positions a believer for blessing, wisdom, and spiritual resilience.

Faithfulness in prison is rarely recognized in the moment. Often, the rewards of obedience are delayed or invisible. Hannah’s story, as we have studied, reminds us that God honors perseverance in faith, even when outcomes are unseen. Men who faithfully live under the authority of God’s Word, regardless of their circumstances, cultivate character, influence peers positively, and prepare for God’s future plans, often beyond the walls of confinement.

Prayer becomes a lifeline in these acts of obedience. Daily communion with God strengthens discernment, reinforces courage, and sustains the believer when obedience is costly, thankless, or lonely. Jehoshaphat’s wisdom and Micaiah’s courage illustrate that the faithful believer must sometimes stand alone, listening to God’s Word when no other human voice validates it. This requires spiritual stamina cultivated through prayer, Scripture meditation, and deliberate application of God’s commands.  

Final Thought – “Walking in God’s Wisdom: The Victory of Discerned Decisions”

The story of Jehoshaphat, Ahab, and Micaiah is more than historical narrative; it is a blueprint for the believer in prison. Spiritual discernment, courage, obedience, and faithfulness are timeless virtues that shape the life of anyone seeking God in difficult circumstances. Ahab’s desire to hear only comforting words led to his ruin, while Jehoshaphat’s willingness to hear truth, even from an uncomfortable source, reflects the wisdom God honors.

Incarcerated believers face unique pressures: isolation, scarcity of resources, constant exposure to temptation, and the daily challenges of living under authority while maintaining personal integrity. Within this environment, selective hearing is a natural temptation. We may embrace messages that make us feel better, justify our past, or soothe our anxiety. But God calls for full attentiveness to His Word, not just the parts that affirm our comfort or desires.

The Scriptures repeatedly emphasize this principle. Psalm 34:19 assures that the righteous experience afflictions, yet God delivers them from all. This affirms that difficulties, isolation, and correction are not signs of abandonment, but instruments in God’s refining hand. Likewise, James 1:22–25 underscores the need for active obedience. Hearing alone is insufficient; transformation requires application. The believer who is a doer experiences God’s blessing and grows in spiritual resilience, even within the confines of prison walls.

Historical voices reinforce this lesson. Charles Spurgeon reminded believers that “The truth that cuts is the truth that heals; the Word that challenges is the Word that saves.” John Calvin observed that spiritual counsel must be measured against God’s Word, not human preference. These insights remind us that faithfulness requires courage, discernment, and obedience, particularly when circumstances obscure recognition or reward.

Obedience in prison is rarely dramatic, but it is profoundly transformative. Every act of integrity, every instance of resisting pride or temptation, every moment of prayer and Scripture application, is a declaration of trust in God’s unseen providence. These small acts mirror Jehoshaphat’s discernment and Micaiah’s courage: doing what is right, even when ignored, rejected, or uncomfortable.

Moreover, the community of believers within the prison can serve as a source of support. While peer pressure often leads to compromise, a faithful circle—those committed to God’s Word—encourages accountability, strengthens obedience, and provides encouragement. Mentorship, Bible study, correspondence with mature Christians, and personal devotionals all offer prophetic guidance that aligns with God’s truth, helping prisoners avoid the folly of selective hearing.

Ultimately, the lessons of 2 Chronicles 18 converge into a single spiritual truth: God sees, God knows, and God rewards faithfulness. Ahab’s rejection of divine correction resulted in death; Jehoshaphat’s pursuit of truth fostered wisdom and alignment with God’s plan. The principle extends to every believer, especially those in prison: selective hearing may bring temporary comfort, but full attentiveness and obedience bring enduring life.

Believers must internalize that God’s Word is both a mirror and a lamp. It exposes sin, guides decision-making, and illuminates the path of righteousness. Obedience is rarely easy, but it is always life-giving. Courage to hear truth, humility to receive correction, and perseverance in doing what God commands—even when unseen or unrewarded—cultivate spiritual strength that cannot be broken, even by walls, time, or circumstance.

For the prisoner, the stakes are immediate and real. Spiritual compromise can bring conflict, regret, and loss of inner peace. Faithful hearing and obedience produce growth, resilience, and a witness to both fellow inmates and staff. Every choice to honor God in small matters reflects the larger truth that obedience is the true measure of faith, and that God’s presence and reward extend beyond human recognition.

In conclusion, the narrative of Jehoshaphat, Ahab, and Micaiah challenges every believer to examine the voices they listen to and the messages they act upon. It calls us to embrace truth over comfort, obedience over convenience, and discernment over conformity. As prisoners, this lesson is magnified: integrity in the unseen, courage in isolation, and faithfulness in adversity are not only possible but spiritually life-giving. By choosing God’s truth over human affirmation, every believer can experience the peace, growth, and blessing that comes from a life fully surrendered to God.

Reflection Questions

1. Are there voices I follow that tell me only what I want to hear?

2. How do I respond when Scripture exposes sin or demands change?

3. Who are the godly counselors in my life that reflect Micaiah’s courage?

4. In what areas of prison life am I tempted to choose comfort over obedience?

5. How can I practically apply James 1:22–25 in my daily routine?

6. What steps can I take to seek correction instead of avoiding it?

7. How can I encourage fellow inmates to value God’s truth over human affirmation?

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your Word that speaks truth into every corner of our lives. Help us to hear not only what is easy or comfortable but what is necessary for spiritual growth. Strengthen us to be doers, not just hearers, of Your Word.

Protect and guide every believer in prison, giving them courage to obey, wisdom to discern, and perseverance to follow You even when it is hard.

May Your presence bring peace in isolation, hope in despair, and clarity in confusion.

 Bless them with the assurance that their faithfulness is seen, their obedience matters, and their lives are held in Your sovereign hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

From: Fight the Good Fight of Faith / Life Journal: by Gregg Harris