Not With Might, But With a Whisper!

I was reading 1 Kings 19:11-13 this morning. What a great but unexpected story! Elijah had fled to Horeb (Mt Sinai) because Jezebel had threatened to kill him. He was hiding in a cave. It was here that God planned to meet Elijah, but not in a mighty way as Elijah expected. In fact, Elijah almost missed God’s soft whisper.

Here’s what the passage says:

“And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””

There is Power in God’s Whisper

I just love this encounter. It is so much how we might expect God to speak, with a booming voice, with wind and fire and the earth shaking. But God was not in the mighty wind or in the earthquake or the fire. He created all of those things. He is master over them. Elijah was ready for a great show of power and might. But God did something else, unexpected and no less powerful. He came to Elijah in a soft, low whisper.

When Elijah realized that he was hearing God’s voice, he covered his head in respect and listened. God had a soft but firm reprimand for Elijah. He still had work for him to do, but Elijah hadn’t trusted that God would protect him, so he ran to the hills.

When I was a teacher, if I raised my voice to get my students’ attention, they would just get louder and ignore me. But if I talked in a whisper, they stopped what they were doing to listen to me. They were curious about what I was saying and didn’t want to miss a word! There is power in a whisper, even more effective than shouts and a big brass band!

A Whisper Is His Personal Message

The photo above is of my granddaughter, Abigail, whispering a secret to her mommy, my daughter Leslie. But when God whispers to us, it’s not a secret He wants to share. His message is a special one, drawing us closer to His heart. He wants us to lean into His still small voice because it brings us into a more personal relationship with Him.

There is beauty in God’s whisper. There is intimacy and love. Hope and peace. And even instructions, if we listen closely. This beauty reminded me of a very old hymn, “Whispering Hope.” This version is a simple, but lovely duet. Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/sqK4lu17gpI?si=KzPfAFjtgvmoZITe

Too Much Noise Drowns Out His Voice

But how do we listen in a day like today? Right from the start, a loud alarm blared into your subconscious mind, urging you to wake up this morning. Did you turn it off or hit the snooze button? Either way, your day started with noise, didn’t it?

Getting the kids out of bed and ready for school can be a noisy battle as well. Mornings just seem too loud to hear God’s whisper. But maybe, just maybe, His whisper is still there. Sometimes taking a tiny moment to just stop and inhale one deep breath can call us into focus. “I’m here, my child.” Do you hear Him? Breathe in again. “I am with you. You are not alone.”

The Beauty of God’s Whisper: You Are Loved!

When you look in the mirror while applying your makeup, breathe deeply. He sees the you that no one else can see. The woman who is pulled in too many directions. The one who doesn’t like that reflection looking back at her. The tired woman who questions her value and purpose. Breathe in again. Hear His whisper. “You are mine, my beloved.”

God’s beautiful voice whispers encouragement and peace throughout our day. Just listen, dear one. In every deep breath you take, breathe Him in and listen for His whisper. “Yahweh.” Those tiny moments of peace, joy, hope, and contentment can flood your soul. And those precious moments are His voice speaking just to you.

The beauty of God’s whisper is knowing it’s always there. You just have to be quiet and listen. He has a personal message meant for you alone. Shhhh! Can you hear Him?

Prayer:

Dear Father, I want to hear Your whisper! I want that intimacy with You where I can hear You speak to my soul. Help me quiet all the noise and just listen for Your voice. You are always with me, and I’m so grateful! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.