For the most part we, as Christians, rely a whole lot on other people (pastors, leaders, etc...) to hear God's voice when it comes to the hard stuff in life.  For example, there are times when we KNOW the answer in the deepest parts of our hearts, but we are too scared to venture down those forsaken hallways for fear of getting crushed by disappointment or falling into the 'deep end'.  So we go to church or bible study or ministry school (anywhere that we KNOW God is able to speak) and we secretly hope that HE has us on the brain.  Now, we may or may not hear a 'Thus Sayeth the Lord' while at these establishments, but more often than not we are so desperate to get a CLEAR answer to something, that we latch on to a specific word or scripture and we re-shape it to fit OUR situation.  Then, we walk away feeling pretty touched by God.
Now, I'm not saying that the scenario above isn't good or bad, the truth is I don't know.  Every single person and every single situation is different (yet oddly the same) and what works for some people doesn't work for others.  What I DO KNOW is that sometimes we just NEED to hear it from HIM. 
This is a highly overlooked concept, because when we hear a word through someone (on His behalf) we have technically heard from Him.  This is predominately how He operates (actually, how we ALLOW Him to operate) but I have this sneaking suspicion that He (and if we are honest, We) LONGS to talk to us heart to heart with no middle man/woman and no distractions, just the two of us.  And really, sometimes this is just what the 'doctor ordered'.  So now comes the hard part... how do we get to that place?
There is NO FORMULA that works for everyone across the board.  I know people who only feel still on the inside when they are surrounded by a bustling metropolis; on the other hand I also know people who need to be smack dab in the middle of nature to feel at peace.  It's up to YOU how you get there, the key is in the effort.  Sometimes you need to take a minute and turn it all off and focus on Him.  Sometimes you need to listen and sometimes you need to cry out.  Whatever the method, just do it.  Because sometimes... hearing directly from Him is just what you need.