Listen Through the Chaos
This is one of my favorite photos taken by Ron of the sand during our stroll along a Southern California beach.
For several weeks now, I have been praying about a situation that is draining people I love. I have no premonition about what might happen. I ask God for the specific outcome I’m convinced would be best, but I am realizing a lot of anxiety comes from the position of “not knowing.”
I was reminded today of an Old Testament story. The prophet Elijah had done everything he knew to do, and he desired desperately to get some type of message from God. Instructed to go to a mountain and wait, Elijah obeyed. Here’s what happened:
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 19:12 MSG).
Elijah finally heard God’s voice not in a big, booming, dramatic way, but rather as a whisper. Through the cacophony of Elijah’s mental, emotional, and spiritual chaos, God chose to be heard in a gentle, quiet whisper.
There’s a lot of noise in the world right now. A plethora of passionate voices.
Pundits pontificate.
Politicians blame.
Preachers caution.
Peacemakers attempt.
Angry youths who feel marginalized lash out. Sarcastic, divisive, and sometimes downright mean messages spewing over social media expose inner turmoil in both senders and receivers. Homeless and hapless people struggle to survive. Hardworking folks, just trying to be responsible citizens, feel frustrated. Parents, terrified for their offspring, worry and weep.
Hurricane winds of angry voices rip apart families, communities, and nations. Violent earthquakes of war and destruction shatter hopes and homes and hearts. Fires of hatred and division sear even the softest soul.
What if God’s voice today still isn’t to be heard in the hurricane, earthquake, or fire. What if a holy, holy, holy God whispers, gently, quietly, trying to get us to hear He LOVES—really, truly, righteously, strongly, unconditionally, everlastingly—LOVES and is for us, not against us, and will fight battles we cannot in our own efforts win.
What if in God’s whisper we were able to hear divine solutions, enabling us to discover ways to solve problems for which Jesus declared he came:
to preach the Message of good news to the poor … ,
to announce pardon to prisoners and
recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
to announce, “This is God’s time to shine!” (Luke 14:18 MSG)
Elijah was a feisty prophet who at times spoke forcefully. As I consider his story, I ask myself these questions:
What if more of us, before we spoke, wrote, or posted, asked God to show us when and how to speak out courageously, wisely, effectively, and perhaps even forcefully?
Conversely, when are we being called to “Be still and know …”, to simply wait for the gentle and quiet whisper?”
Will you join me in pondering these questions?
Blessings on your journey,
