How Can I Hear God?
“After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” (NIV)
1 Kings 19:12
Several years ago, my husband, Paul, and I boarded a ten-hour international flight with our three young children. The youngest in those days was two-year-old Andrew. Flying with a toddler on a very long flight isn’t ideal, but Andrew had handled the outbound experience very well. On the day of our return trip, Paul stepped from the jet bridge onto the airplane carrying Andrew on one side and holding Andrew’s car seat in his free hand. Our two young girls followed behind, dragging their small rolling suitcases, and I brought up the rear loaded down with car seats, the diaper bag, and miscellaneous items. The freshly prepared plane was neat and tidy with packaged blankets on all the seats. We straggled through the luxurious business-class cabin and had just spotted our seats in coach when Andrew looked around and suddenly erupted. He must have remembered that flying requires a LOT of time sitting down and two-year-old Andrew wanted no part of that! He began to loudly protest and do his best to wriggle out of Paul’s arms to get down and get off that plane.
How many times do we do the same? Maybe we don’t physically try to run away, but when we find ourselves in unwelcome or difficult circumstances, we oftentimes try to take matters into my own hands by fixating on what we think we need and pleading with God to provide it. We get tunnel vision.
On the pages of 1 Kings 19, we find Elijah caught in tunnel vision. After many unsuccessful years, Elijah finally and triumphantly achieved his goal of convincing God’s people to turn away from idols. He felt relieved and victorious, and he envisioned a little relaxation from his efforts along with some appreciation from God’s people. Instead, his biggest critic promised to kill him. Instead of accolades and rest, Elijah was spurned and vindictively rejected. Filled with discouragement, Elijah knew what he needed. He ran away and begged God to let him die.
This may seem like a dramatic response, but, like Andrew on the plane, Elijah felt certain that he knew what he needed. He believed only death could relieve the despair he had felt for so long.
We so often think we know exactly what we need. A new job, more understanding from our spouse, a better attitude from our kids, healing, more money, deliverance from a trial. How could any of those desires differ from what God wants us to have?
But our determination drowns out the soft whisper of God, and His whisper holds the hope we need to persevere.
How can we hear the whisper of wisdom over the scream of chaos in our minds?
In 1 Kings, 19:12, we read, “After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” (NIV)
Those natural disasters forced Elijah to stop looking for a solution and sent him straight to the Savior. It’s not about solving the problem. It’s about surrendering all of it, our emotions, our determination, and our situation, so we have space to hear the still, small voice of our big, faithful God. He has everything we need to keep going.
Hearing God’s whisper sent Elijah in a new direction full of promise. God provided a successor, to give Elijah the well-deserved rest that he needed, and Elijah was fortified and encouraged by God’s presence. Likewise, when we were able to break through Andrew’s meltdown, he was pleasantly surprised by the goodies we brought with us to distract him from many hours of sitting.
What do you need to surrender so you can uncover the whisper of God? He may not provide your idea of a solution, but He will supply exactly what you need to endure, and eventually, to thrive.
Dear Jesus, I’m really struggling to see another solution to my problems. I know that you’re bigger than this, but I confess that it doesn’t feel like that to me right now. Jesus, help me trust you. Help me see through my emotions, my determination, and my situation, and lay them down so I can hear you. Reveal your presence to me and help me hear you over the chaos in my head. In Your name I pray, Amen.