Stop and Listen
Written by: Bethany Plett
Do you ever wonder what God’s will is for your life? Do you ever feel like the heavens are silent, and you are in a period of waiting and nothing is happening?
This longing for God’s will is not a new desire to the people of God. Elijah felt like this many, many years ago. He went on a day’s journey into the wilderness and sat under a broom tree. He felt completely worthless and dejected, and prayed to God that he might die.
Then he fell asleep.
An angel quietly came and touched him on the shoulder and said, “Arise, and eat.” So he arose and ate the cake and water that was set beside him.
But then he fell asleep again.
And again, the angel came and touched him on the shoulder, and said, “Arise, and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”
The angel didn’t come with a map and reveal all his travel plans to him, but simply told him to arise and eat. That was all that was required of him in that moment. To awake, and be present.
After spending a night in a cave, he stood on the mountain before the Lord.
And a great strong wind tore into the mountain and broke the rocks in pieces. But the Lord was not in the wind.
And after the wind, an earthquake and fire. But the Lord was not in the fire.
Then after the fire, a still, small voice. And Elijah knew. He covered his face and stood in the entrance of the cave while the Lord gently spoke to him and told him what to do.
Sometimes we feel like we’re in a whirlwind of uncertainty. We look for fulfillment in people and things and forget that in God alone we will find peace. We get so caught up in the commotion of life that we forget to stop and listen to what God is trying to tell us.
But when we pause and let the noise from the whirlwind of life fade into the background, we can hear the gentle voice of God. And the peace and rest that comes to our hearts is far beyond what we could find in anything on this earth.
We don’t need to wait for some earth-shaking event. All we need to do is stop and listen for that still, small voice.