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“And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.”
I Kings 19:12b ESV

I truly love the hope a new year can bring. My daughters always give me a new wall calendar every Christmas and I love writing in upcoming events and important days to remember. A new year brings in goals and dreams, wishes and desires, hopes and plans. But, thus far, this year has stretched demands to a point where I am being tested and I must confess that the new year and I have not started on a very positive note. Quite honestly, several challenges have me feeling a bit like being backed into a deep dark cave.

Have you ever felt this way? I think we all have at one point. We are bombarded with the demands of life and often times those demands can begin to suffocate. They arrive in many forms; loneliness, financial strain, single parenting, household upkeep, employment, health concerns, aging parents. These are but a few factors that can cause a desire for us to want to slip into a cave. They can arrive as a single challenge or can rear an ugly head and come in multiple doses. They are loud, they are frightening and they demand our attention.

It is so easy to get caught up in the “troubles” of our lives. We let them captivate our thoughts and often times we try and run away thinking we can hide from the ugliness they place in our heart. Day after day, night after night, we feel the pressure of these pesky concerns.

We want to run and hide.

Much like Elijah. The 19th chapter of I Kings speaks about Elijah running from Jezebel whose desire was to kill Elijah. The Lord ministered to Elijah and encouraged him to eat. He then traveled to the Mount of Horeb where he entered into a cave feeling lonely and defeated. It is here that the Lord instructs Elijah to leave the cave and stand in the presence of the Lord who is about to pass by. A great and powerful wind passed by, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind 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. After the fire came a still small voice.

A whisper.

God wanted to show Elijah where He was, by first showing him where He was not. He did not arrive in a dramatic manifestation; instead, He chose to get Elijah’s attention by a whisper.

These challenges that have forced stress and fear upon me are like the wind, earthquake and fire. They make me want to tell Elijah “Move over, I am coming into the cave.” They are loud and frightful.

But, God is not in them.

Oh that I may have the heart of Elijah. May I humbly heed the words of the psalmist;

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.”
Psalm 37:7

He whispers to me, “I Am”. I am bigger than all of these “problems”. I am with you.

Yes, Lord. I hear you.

This passage is a plea for us to listen closely to God. Be humble. Be obedient. Be attentive. Be prepared for surprises.

It is my prayer that you hear His still, small voice as you go forward in this journey. He is bigger than any problem or challenge you face. I pray you can hear His whisper in the midst of any battle you are facing.

He is near.

He hears you.

Listen.

Precious Lord, I am so blessed that You love me and can get my attention with just a still small voice in the midst of any challenge I face. My prayer is that all these dear widows can hear the whisper of Your love in the journey of widowhood and the obstacles it can bring. Thank You, Lord, for the whisper. Amen.