The Whisper of Heaven that Silences the Noise in Your Soul

“Then he was told, ‘Go stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.’ A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.”
1 Kings 19:11-12 (MSG)

Yesterday, we left Elijah on the mountain at attention before God. He had retreated to a cave in discouragement, suffering from physical fatigue, loneliness, and depression following a great victory! Sometimes our greatest defeats in life follow our greatest victories. But God will use our greatest struggles to get our attention. Elijah may have thought he was done, but God wasn’t!  He had more for His prophet to do. His assignment wasn’t finished.

I find it fascinating how God speaks, how God got Elijah’s attention on that mountain, and drew him out of his cave of despair.  The Bible says God would pass by. Then came a hurricane wind that ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks, but God wasn’t in the wind. After the wind, there came an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake. Then a fire! But God wasn’t in the fire. What next? “And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle (and quiet) whisper.” (1 Kings 19:12, NLT/MSG).

Don’t you love the ways of God revealed in Scripture?  God uses a gentle, quiet whisper to call us close to Him! The Bible says, “When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” 1 Kings 19:13 (NIV) God lovingly drew his servant out of that cave of despair with a question. There were no loud commands, no shouts of demand, no exclamation points, just a gentle, quiet whisper asking him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” I love that! Rather than turning up the volume, the whisper of heaven silences the noise that disturbs our souls. His question made Elijah think, reflect, and remember who he was and who God is! Elijah had seen the fire of heaven fall along with the false prophets of Baal. He stood alone in a nation of idolatry and left feeling that nothing was left. The nation had gone adrift. Was he the only one remaining who worshipped God?

As you look at his story, you may find yourself there. What did God whisper to this discouraged prophet? It may be the same thing He wants to say to you and me as well.

• I’m not finished with you yet.

“The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came….’” (1 Kings 19:15a, NIV).

• You’re not alone in your pain.

“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18, NIV).

• You will get through this.

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2, NLT).

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To read this devotional online or catch up on past ones, visit https://kerryshook.org/blog.

Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.