The LORD said, “Go out and stand at the mountain before the LORD. The LORD is passing by.” A very strong wind tore through the mountains and broke apart the stones before the LORD. But the LORD wasn’t in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake. But the LORD wasn’t in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire. But the LORD wasn’t in the fire. After the fire, there was a sound. Thin. Quiet. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his coat. He went out and stood at the cave’s entrance. A voice came to him and said, “Why are you here, Elijah?” – 1 Kings 19:11 (CEB)
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a strong wind, earthquake, and fire appeared before Elijah. Maybe the Lord wasn’t in them but the Lord certainly sent them. Were these a test to see if Elijah listened well? Did he know the difference between the presence of God and the voice of God?
I also wonder if Elijah would have heard the voice of God in the silence without all that came before. Maybe the raging of nature matched the raging within Elijah. The wind, earthquake, and fire might have been the Spirit groaning on Elijah’s behalf. A pleading with God to speak some peace into Elijah’s troubled heart.
In the thin quiet, Elijah realized he wasn’t alone on this mountain. God listened and heard him. And knowing this, Elijah was able to listen and hear God.
In our fear and suffering, we may need to rage in our prayers. Like Captain Dan yelling at the storm in Forrest Gump, raging in our own storm may allow us to hear God’s voice where we couldn’t before. Maybe our raging is necessary so that when the quiet comes, we are able to listen.
I believe God listens when we pray. God hears with a deep love and understanding we can’t fathom. God is present in both the storm and the quiet – and may speak in both – if we are able to listen. May God grant us the courage to rage in our prayers when we cannot find the quiet any other way. May God grant us the faith to trust that God listens and hears us, even when we cannot find the words to pray. May God grant us the ability to listen well so we may find peace.
In our fear and suffering, we may need to rage in our prayers. Raging in the own storm may allow us to hear God's voice where we couldn't before. #listen #prayer #GodStillSpeaks Click To Tweet
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Today’s Five Minute Friday word is listen. You can read more here.
Thank you, Michelle. Very helpful and real.
Thanks Claire.
I love this: “Maybe our raging is necessary so that when the quiet comes, we are able to listen.” I think sometimes when we come to God we need to let it all out, however we feel, to get ourselves to a place where we’re ready to be still and listen. Great post!
A lot of anger is involved with rage, but getting it out allows the quiet to come in. I’m responding now while the stove’s timer alarm is beeping in the background. Such is life. Quiet is a luxury.
God is big enough to handle our anger.
It may be that it’s right to rage
to God as most sincere of prayer,
but I am on another page,
one too beautiful to tear.
The pain that shreds me every day
has given birth to ministry
and has helped me find a way
to see the grave’s false victory.
In cancer I will lose my life,
but far more precious has been gained,
a faith honed sharper than a knife,
and love that now can be maintained.
The days now run from good to great,
and I’m deeply thankful for my fate.
Thank you for sharing. Peace to you Andrew.
You are very strong indeed.
Thank you so much…my strength is borrowed, from the Lord and from those who love me.
And there are far more of the latter than I ever dared hope. I am the luckiest man on earth.
Michelle,
What lovely thoughts on prayer and listening to the Father. I often hear Him speak to me when I am out in His created world. He will often draw my eye to things He created and in those things I will see something that reminds me of a Bible passage or from a Sunday sermon or of an attribute of God’s nature. I’ve always felt closest to God near water–especially rushing water. I wonder what that says about my spirit? Haha! Thanks for sharing today.
-Sarah
I also seek God’s presence in nature. I hope you get a chance to get outside today. Thanks for visiting!