Discovering God’s Whisper
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Aug 7, 2023
- 2 min read
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12)
In 1 Kings 19:11-12, Elijah was in a place where He had to have an answer to move forward. As he awaited the Lord's presence, a powerful and destructive wind tore through the mountains, followed by a ground shaking earthquake and a powerful blazing fire. However, the Scripture tells us that the Lord was not in any of these impressive manifestations. It was after the wind, earthquake, and fire that Elijah finally heard God's voice—a voice that came as a gentle whisper.
As we follow God, there are moments when we long to encounter Him in powerful and dramatic ways. People like it when God reveals His purpose for us through a rush of wind that blows through a room, an earthquake that shakes everyone in the place, a finger writing on the wall, the clouds parting to display an image or a fire in a bush near the house. Yet, when we seek for the display, we often miss the miraculous. In our desire for the dramatic, we can easily overlook the gentle whisper—the still small voice—when God speaks personally to us.
God often speaks to us not in the grand, dramatic, and spectacular, but in the stillness and quietness of our hearts. His voice carries immense power and significance when we are quiet enough to listen. It requires us to tune our spiritual ears to hear His gentle whisper amidst the noise and chaos of life. It’s not that God isn’t speaking; it’s usually that we aren’t listening.
Practical Application
Turn off the TV, put away your electronic devices, and create space for stillness as you actively listen for God’s voice. It may require discipline and adjustment of your daily routines, but the benefits of encountering God's presence far outweigh the temporary distractions and noise of life.
