Monday, January 10, 2022

God, where are you?



"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. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:11‭-‬13

How many times these verses have appeared....in a devotion, a scripture writing plan or a study....and each time I am deeply moved... sometimes to tears...
I could not nor do I care to count the numbers of times I've shouted, pleaded, lamented....begged, "GOD, WHERE ARE YOU!!?? I can't see you in this circumstance, I can't feel your presence, I can't hear your voice. Are you there? Do you care?"
I think it's timely to note that prior to this passage, Elijah was on the run and he was afraid. Scripture says he was running for his life. In 1 Kings 19:4 he said, "I have had enough, Lord; take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."

This world......LIFE can be really loud. And, for me, I admit it often is. I know that is why I'm where I'm at...I know that God is teaching me how to be still, to be less distracted and more content. I know that's why I have lots of time...lots of alone time. Knowing and learning to be okay with it are two very different things. It's that head knowledge versus heart knowing.....that he's showing me again and again and again. Am I a slow learner or am I just stubborn? A question I often ask myself.

Elijah knew the, "Lord was about to pass by". What was he looking for? After all, he was weary.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1

Ephesians 6:10 says, "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might."

Matthew 19:26 says, "ALL things are possible with God."

Ephesians 3:21 says, "to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine"

Isaiah 26:4 says, "the Lord is an everlasting rock".

There are hundreds of verses that talk about God's power and strength. The Bible is full of miraculous signs and wonders. All proven....all historically accurate.

"After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God..."
Revelation 19:1

From Genesis to Revelation, from beginning to end God's power is revealed and recognized. 

What was Elijah looking for?

Was he expecting to see this great, awesome powerful God in the powerful wind that tore the mountains apart and shattered rocks? In the earthquake? In the fire?

Just about ten minutes ago I got a text asking for prayer for a very sick little girl. I sat here in my still, quiet house asking God for two things: miraculous healing for that little girl and that that miracle would be so loud that if her parents don't know Jesus they would, by that miracle, fall to their knees in gratitude. I want a big showing from a powerful God. But is it not true God can reveal himself in a gentle whisper?

I think Elijah might have expected God in a grand display....but what is so beautiful is that after the wind, after the earthquake and after the fire Elijah heard the gentle whisper!!! I'm not so sure I would.

In fact, after my great loss I wondered, for weeks, where God was and if he'd ever come back to me. Of course he never left me but the world, the noise, the grief were so loud I suspect, looking back, his gentle whisper, "I'm here my child" got lost in the chaos.

What a great lesson I can learn from Elijah. He KNEW the Lord was going to pass by so he remained steadfast in the midst of, what must have been, utter chaos and confusion. He stood, he believed, he persevered and when God spoke, he heard.

Life's circumstances are loud. It doesn't matter if the "noise" comes from loss of a loved one, you didn't get into that college, you can't have a child, you lose your job, your house is in foreclosure, you have a prodigal child or you're feeling discouraged and alone....it's ALL loud. There is no measuring stick. So here is the question I ask myself this morning;

Do I allow the noise of this earthly life to drown out the voice of my Savior?

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