I thank God because in the most difficult times, I know he can still speak. Although we serve the all powerful, grand, all knowing God who is much bigger than ourselves, he is also the God who is personal, intimate, and ever present, even when we don’t fell like it.
Remember, God appeared to Elijah in his moment of distress and depression. When the Lord announced he would pass by, the writer records:
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.
And after the wind there was an earthquake,
But the Lord was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire,
But the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire came a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12 NIV).
At that very moment, God spoke to Elijah. Sometimes, I think we overlook the facts. By that moment, Elijah had spent several days literally running for his life. He also endured the wind that was powerful enough to tear mountains, which was followed by an earthquake. A quick Google search can reveal how terrible that reality can be. Finally, he endured the fire. Although all of these elements were within God’s control, God spoke to Elijah in a whisper. And when God spoke, he did not give a command. No, he approached Elijah with a question, “What are you doing here (verse 13b)?”
The question is a gentle reminder that God cares for us. He cares when we are broken, sad, depressed, and discouraged. He cares when we fear of our lives. He hears us and cares when we cry out to him in prayer.
David certainly reminds us of this truth in so many Psalms that he wrote. That’s why I love going to Psalms when I am in the wilderness. I pray the Psalms, meditate on them, sing or sometimes shout them. The Psalms remind us that God speaks in a whisper to answer us intimately.
While in the wilderness, I gathered for a spiritual retreat to reflect on Psalm 62:5-8:
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
My hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times,
O people; pour out your hearts to him,
For God is our refuge.
This is my hope and prayer for you today. That you may realize that your hope comes from God, know that he alone is your rock, salvation (in the now and times to comes), and your fortress. That you will not be shaken. That you may know that your salvation and honor depend on God alone. Jesus makes you righteous. You do not have to work harder. God loves you as his perfect creation. The mighty rock with shape your heart when you find refuge in him. Weary soul, come. Pour out your heart to God. May your soul will find rest in God alone.
Love and Blessings, Natasha
© Natasha Sistrunk Robinson 2012
A SISTA'S JOURNEY 