It wasn’t in the wind. It wasn’t in the earthquake. It wasn’t in the fire. It was in the quiet that Elijah heard the voice of God.

1 Kings 19:11-13:
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?” ( New International Version)

So, the question we hear from God,  when we are in the battle, is…What are you doing here, my child?

When the waves of the pains of hardship in our life wash over us and the clouds of discouragement are difficult to step out of, it isn’t easy to find the quiet.  That time in our walk becomes filled with doubt, fear and anger.  “Where are you, God?”…becomes the constant thought in our head.  We keep waiting but only hear the loudness of defeat…with no end in sight to the pain we feel.

Elijah was expecting to see God, to hear from Him, when all of the chaos erupted in his life.  Surely He’ll be in the wind, Elijah thought.  God knows I can’t stand alone in this strong sweeping wind that threatens my dwelling, my habitation…must have been Elijah’s thinking.  But, much to Elijah’s disappointment,  God wasn’t in the wind.

Elijah knew for sure God would show up in the earthquake.  He thought, God knows I need His strength now.  I am not able to uphold my faith in this shaking and pulling of my foundations.  He’ll be here in the earthquake.  But, in his weakness, Elijah found that God wasn’t in the earthquake.

Elijah felt the heat of the raging flames from the fires of destruction.  He knew he would not be able to maintain his testimony in the intensity of others’ opinions.  Elijah believed he would not be able to fulfill his purpose in light of the judgment of the people…he knew he would burn in the heat of the fire.  Elijah desperately looked for God.  But, God wasn’t in the fire.

After the turmoil stopped and the trouble ceased, when Elijah was storm-tossed, soul-weary, fearful, fretful and disappointed…a quiet came over him.

God asks us the same question he asked Elijah when we, disillusioned, disappointed, fretful stand in the middle of our fierce winds, earthquakes and fires and look for His presence in the turmoil…What are you doing here?

What are we doing looking for God in the trouble, indeed.  God reminds us that He sits above the howling winds.  He dwells over the shaking of the earth.  He is High and Lifted above the heat of the flames.  He proclaims over us that no weapon that has been forged will prosper against us.  He has good thoughts regarding us and will give us hope and the prospects of a glorious future.

We often let our trouble define our relationship with God.  We spend too much time worrying.  We let ourselves become afraid, angry and discouraged.  We sometimes lose our faithful fervor to our human frailty.  When we are enduring terrible trials, we must stop seeking God in the midst of the trouble.  We must offer God a sacrificial praise, one that may have to begin in our weakened, shaken spirit.  It is here we must seek Him where He may be found…in the quiet.

Still yourself.  Lift your voice with praise.  Go into the secret place.  That is where He is. Dwelling over all of our issues, whether we see Him or not.  He is faithful.  Even when we are not.  He will not leave us…even when we are overtaken by grief, pain, worry, or fear.   Trade your disappointment and discouragement for His reassurance…

Until next post…Blessings, vw1