1 Kings 19:11
“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. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. – 1 Kings 19:11-13
Hearing God has always been something that is difficult for me. I have always wanted to hear him, but it often seems like I just can’t. I remember times where I have prayed and prayed but just couldn’t seem to hear what he wanted to say to me. It has been rather frustrating.
As I reflect more on it and look more into how to hear God’s voice I think there’s one big reason why I often can’t hear him. That reason is that I am often listening for a very loud and obvious voice or thought. I often expect God to speak to me loud enough to break through the loudness of my days. But when I read the passage from 1 King, I start to think that a loud voice isn’t the only way to hear God. God presented himself to Elijah as a gentle whisper. He wasn’t in the heavy winds, the earthquake, or the fire. He was in the gentle whisper.
This has helped me begin to listen to what God is trying to tell me. It has helped me listen to him in the small gentle things that might pass me by if I’m waiting for a big loud experience. In my life, God has shown up more often in the small quiet things. As I pray and go about my day, I do my best to keep an ear out for the small places where God might be trying to speak to me. Maybe in a gentle whisper. My prayer is that you would hear God in a “gentle whisper” this week. Keep your ears open to that gentle whisper this week.