A Tree Falls...Does It Make a Sound?

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
- Mark 11:24

The old adage often attributed to George Berkeley asks, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Now, I’m not going to get too deep philosophically, but the simple answer is NO!

Does it create sound waves? Yes. Does it create a sound? No. A sound by definition is audible vibrations of the air that are perceived. Without the reception of the sound waves, there is no sound. It is no different than a hearing test where they put the headphones on you and create sound waves. The sound waves exist, but you only raise your hand when you perceive the sound. Otherwise, you are deaf to vibrations created. The vibrations were present, but their was no sound. The fact that it should have made a sound doesn’t change the fact that it didn’t.

Prayer is talking and listening to God. Many people struggle with prayer. Reading a post on social media, a text message, or a phone call is much easier. It brings the communication down into our physical senses. Spiritual listening is more complex. It is easy to talk to God, but to listen? That is our challenge.

The key to the adage is “and no one is around to hear it.” It is easy to avoid being “around” to hear. Most often it is because we do not expect a response, or we expect a response before we actively listen.

Jesus tells us in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Notice what this passage does not say. It doesn’t say “believe that you will receive them”, nor does it say “believe as you receive them.” It says “believe that you receive them!” A present reality.

Part of being around to hear from God is acting on your own prayers. Believing you have received them. You can’t pray and leave the forest and hear the tree fall, or the mountain moved, a miracle performed or the voice of God.

Yet, we often wander through life waiting to hear from God. Constantly moving and hustling to make it our own. We are overwhelmed by oppression, stress, worry, fatigue, doubt and general busyness. We are eager for change, but we want the mountain to start moving before we believe.

Paul tells us in Romans 4:17-18, “God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who contrary to hope, in hope believed…”. Belief came first. Before there was reason to hope, hope prevailed. Those who remained steadfast in faith in the forest of doubt hear not the tree fall, but the Lord speak.

One of the great challenges of the Christian life is waiting upon the Lord. It is a monumental challenge because we are conditioned to wait for a sign. To see His work being done before we join the ranks. What Christ is calling us to here is an active waiting. Not stagnation, but rather actively pursuing His will in the absence of evidence the mountain is moving.

Faith prays and then acts believing “that you receive.”

The only clarification I will make in this regard is that we are talking about anything we ask in His name. (John 14:13) That doesn’t mean we can ask anything and end the prayer with “in Jesus’ name” and get what we want. In His name means to be in Him. It is asking in an abiding relationship where we are in Him, He is in us and He is living through us. In that state, anything we ask, He will supply. Believe that you receive it.

The greatest challenge to prayer is overcoming ourselves. Understanding we are not what’s most important. He genuinely cares for you and wants the best for you, but His will is what matters. Today, I’m challenged to set my own selfish outlook aside and humbly pray for His will in my life. Then, to have the courage to believe and act knowing I have received it. Will you join me?

© 2026 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.