This is a particularly good question because we know from experience that God does not speak to us in the same way that we do to each other.

First of all we need to ask for faith, in the same prayer, to be able to accept that God is in fact speaking to us. Some practical advice would be to give yourself the time to pray. Very often we think that God does not hear us, but have we given ourselves the opportunity to make it happen?

Yet prayer can still be tough, especially if we have had to suffer in any way. It can be very difficult to hear God, or know that he hears us, when we have been struck by some recent tragedy or difficulty. In such situations, we need perseverance and application.

Try reading the scriptures, attending Mass (if you don't already), going to Confession (if you haven't for a while, and are a Catholic), and talking to others. It might be a bit of a cliché, but it is still true that a problem shared is a problem halved!