Tune in to the Whisper
by Doris Hoover
“And after the fire came a gentle whisper”
(1 Kings 19:12 NIV)
“Okay, let’s quiet down,” was a phrase I repeated all day long when I taught third grade. Results usually lasted for a few minutes before the noise level rose again— except when I had laryngitis. On those rare days when I could utter nothing above a whisper, my classroom fell into an eerie level of quietude.
There was a time when the prophet Elijah only heard noise. Queen Jezebel screamed promises to kill him. Grumbling filled his own mind. The prophet couldn’t shake the nagging thoughts that his zeal for God went unappreciated and he stood alone in his worship of the Lord. So in fear and despair, Elijah hid in a cave.
God met him in this desperate attempt at refuge from terror and noise. He told Elijah to stand at the mouth of the cave while the Lord passed by. Elijah heard loud gusts of wind shattering rocks. He heard earthquakes rumbling and fire blazing. But the Lord was not in the chaos. God’s voice came afterwards as a gentle whisper, telling Elijah there was still work to do and that Elijah’s doubts were based on misconceptions.
As writers, we can get caught up in the noise of lies and miss the gentle whisper of God’s voice. How often might we listen to the clamor of doubts and the racket of fears? Do we question whether God really gave us a message to share? Do we allow the din of insecurities to send us into hiding? I know I do.
The Lord calls us to turn away from the loud and seek the quiet. He says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NIV). This verse reminds us our part is to simply be still and remember who God is. Our strength, wisdom and direction come from the Lord, and he has the power to accomplish the task he places before us. If we’re feeling unsure or afraid, if we’ve lost our perspective, it’s time to meditate on God’s word and tune into his whisper.
O Lord, help us shut out the noise in our heads so we hear your whispers loud and clear. May we be still in Your presence before we put any words on paper. Amen.
Doris Hoover lives in Florida, but she also spends time along the coast of Maine. Her passion is discovering God’s messages in nature and sharing them with others. Doris also enjoys her other roles as wife, mother and grandmother. Her first book is Quiet Moments in The Villages, A Treasure Hunt Devotional is. You can visit Doris at captivatedbythecreator.com.