What are you listening for?
I was a hyperactive child that grew up to be a high-energy adult. Telling me to calm down and listen has always been a lost cause. I find it irritating now. Almost insulting. What do you know about the neural energy coursing through every vein in my body?
People make the assumption of getting my attention or for that matter anyone’s attention you have to be loud, commanding, and all-consuming. So often we apply the ways of the world to the God of the universe. We assume that God relies only on a giant, scary booming voice to terrify us into submission or action.
But scripture tells us otherwise. In 1 Kings 19: 11-13 we read…
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Let’s set the scene. Elijah is on God’s holy mountain. He is on the same mountain that Moses was when he received the ten commandments. Elijah is now standing on the mountain and then a great wind came and split the mountain and rocks fell but….
God was not in the wind.
Then fire came but…….
God was not in the fire.
Finally, an earthquake came but….
God was not in the earthquake.
Then a gentle whisper came and said, “Elijah, why are you here?
God was in the whisper.
Most days I yearn for God’s audible voice to come booming through all the noise surrounding me. I think I am expecting him to speak louder than the noise. However, what He showed Elijah was to let all the noise and bluster pass by, to be still, and wait on the Lord to speak in a gentle whisper. God pursued Elijah all the way into the wilderness to make himself heard. Yet every day God’s still, strong whisper can be heard through every aspect of life. We can hear God’s voice daily through scripture, prayer, through worship but more than anything we can hear him in the silence.
Are we listening for God or are we allowing all the noise pollution of the world to drown him out? If you are feeling any discouragement today, take a lesson from Elijah. Run towards God not away from Him, rest in His care, and tune your heart and mind to the voice of God through those sweet moments of silence.
-Carissa Figgins
