Daily devotional · August 5
The Quiet After the Storm
“Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains 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 there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
Elijah is exhausted, afraid, and ready to give up. After a great victory he runs for his life and hides in a cave. God does not scold him. He invites him to stand on the mountain and lets a wind, an earthquake, and a fire pass by. God was not in any of them. Then comes a thin, quiet sound, and Elijah covers his face. We often expect God only in the dramatic moments, yet he frequently speaks in the hush that follows. Look at 1 Kings 19:12 and notice how gentle the meeting is. When we are burned out, God's first response is often rest, food, and a whisper rather than a lecture. Today, turn off one source of noise for ten minutes, such as the phone or the television. Sit quietly, and simply tell God how tired you really are.
Also read
“After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.”
1 Kings 19:12
Prayer
God of the whisper, meet me in my weariness. Teach me to listen in the quiet and to rest in your care.