Endurance for the Journey, Featured, Hope
Needing God’s Voice
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.
1 KINGS 19:12 (NIV)
Elijah was fresh from the victory at Carmel, where God had spoken clearly and powerfully to the nation with fire falling from heaven. But now the prophet was discouraged and depressed and needed to hear from God again, this time to receive encouragement and direction.
God’s response to Elijah fit the condition of the weary prophet’s heart. Elijah needed a gentle, reassuring, fatherly interaction with God, not a message delivered via earthquake or windstorm. The depths of God’s character and love are shown throughout Scripture as He responds to His children in just the way they need Him most.
A broken heart needs a tender touch as surely as a rebellious one may require a heavy hand. The God who formed the heart and soul of every person knows best how to speak to them. Our responsibility is to be in a position to listen.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
PSALM 34:18 (NLT)
On the journey with you,
Dave Dravecky
