I Kings 19: 11-12 “’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.”

Years ago, a show aired on television called, Hee Haw. Each week, the “Gloom” song was belted out.  Its lyrics go like this:

“Gloom, despair, and agony on me.
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery.
If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.
Gloom, despair, and agony on me.”

Perhaps the songwriter found inspiration to pen these famous gloomy lines from Elijah in I Kings 19.  At this point in his life, God’s servant, Elijah, had witnessed some pretty miraculous acts of Jehovah: fire raining down from heaven, torrential rain sent on command, a widow’s son raised from the dead, and ravens commandeered to deliver food. But, with his life in danger, fear overtook Elijah and he fled to Mt. Horeb, the very mountain where God thunderously delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses.

Elijah was well aware of what happened on this mountain long before. Perhaps Elijah chose this spot anticipating another loud and theatrical display of God’s power. When miracles did not come, Elijah must have wondered where God’s resounding voice was now that he needed it.  While waiting for God to appear, gloom, despair, and agony overtook Elijah.

Soon, a hurricane-force wind tore the mountain apart.  Surely anyone would assume God was in this wind, but God was not.  Following the wind, there came a devastating earthquake and fire. As the mountains crumbled and erupted into flames, surely Elijah assumed the presence of God.  But still, God was not there.  Then, in an unexpected move, God spoke to Elijah in a quiet whisper. Immediately, Elijah knew beyond the shadow of a doubt, this small voice was God.

Sometimes, it seems easier for us to believe all the loud and mighty stories of God’s miracles than to accept God’s ability to work quietly in our lives. However, faith in all the loudness of God requires that we also trust in his quiet power and gentle nudges.

When life is filled with chaos and we struggle to find direction, remember that God can speak to us in the stillness of scripture. When our faith is weakened and we cry out for renewal, the gentle voice of God says, “Be still and know that I am God.” And like Elijah, when struggles overtake us and life seems too difficult to endure, appeal to a loving God who can lead us by quiet and peaceful waters and restore our hurting souls.

Without a doubt, life can produce all the loud chaos imaginable. What a gracious God we serve who knows how to love us and minister to us in the serenity of quietness.

Father God, open our eyes and our ears so that we are aware of all the small and quiet ways you work mightily in our lives.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane