Day 15 | Escaping the Noise
1 Kings 19:11-13 (NIV)
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” 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. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
OBSERVATION
Day two of solitude.
Cars. School bells. iPhones. Laptops. Earbuds. Noise, noise, noise... We live in the loudest time in history. From a new song, fresh commentary from your favorite influencer, or the latest episode of your favorite show, countless sounds are begging for your attention. The external noise of our modern world is overwhelming. But there is a deeper noise.
What about the noise that lives rent-free in your head? Some of you can’t seem to shut your minds off even in a quiet place. Anxiety. Pressure. Decisions. Regrets. Your thoughts run wild, 24/7, regardless of what you do or how tired you are, and it’s hurting you badly.
The Prophet Elijah understood this too well. After having one of the most epic victories in the Old Testament, Elijah is now running for his life from a woman named Jezebel. He finds himself depressed in the wilderness, even admitting he would be better off dead. God sends him some food and tells him to take a nap. Amen to that! After eating, Elijah takes off to “Horeb, the mountain of God.” (1 Kings 19:8) Elijah’s goal was to meet with God.
Once there, God tells Elijah to get ready for Him. There was a great windstorm, no God. An earthquake, no God. A firestorm, no God again. Then, after all that noise, came just a gentle whisper. A still, quiet voice. It was God. He had come to meet with His discouraged prophet.
Elijah had to deal with external and internal noise. The noise of the literal storms and the storms inside him. By the end of the story, Elijah is renewed in strength by God’s Word. But it did not come easily. He had to escape the noise to hear the voice. And my friend, you can too. Don’t let this busy world and your loud mind rob you of the Shepherd’s voice. Get alone. Quiet your soul. And be ready to hear God say, “What are you doing here, _____?”
APPLICATION
Day two of practicing solitude. Again, find a quiet place without distractions. Get comfortable. Put your hands out, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. With each breath, focus your mind on God and His love for you. If your mind begins to wander, re-center your thoughts by quietly praying, “Jesus,” or “Come, Holy Spirit.” Do this for one to two minutes. Listen for that still, small Voice. If you hear Him, great. If you don’t, it’s okay. Regardless, it’s about Him. After you're done, offer gratitude to the Lord.