The Wind and the Whisper

The Wind and the Whisper

By Leisa Speed Rayborn

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

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. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave (1 Kings 19:9-13).

Elijah was zealous for the presence of The Lord!   But he experienced great exhaustion and discouragement.  The wicked Queen Jezebel had a mission to take him out, and he had given every ounce of strength in his mighty work for The Lord.  He sought refuge. In extreme fatigue, he asked God to let him die.  He seemed to think that he was the only one  in Israel that hadn't bowed down to the false God, Baal.

The Lord told him to go stand on the mountain.  Many times in Scripture God used three signs to accompany His presence: wind, earthquake, and fire.  He spoke to Elijah in a whisper.  His presence, found in this still small voice, suggests Gods works in gentle ways as well as powerful ways.  Oh, we should all have this passion for His presence.  Without His presence, the “spiritual bones” which structure our lives become dry, weak, depressed, withered, saddened, anxious, distant, severed, detached, and unconnected.  In our desperation, we long to be reconnected with Him.

Worship is beautiful and a true gift from God.  As we give of ourselves in honor and praise, He gives us release and freedom from the fear of our temporary circumstances. Our open communion in worship with Him fills us with His presence.  As we draw near to Him, whether on the mountain or in the valley, He will draw near to us.  What are your circumstances today? God seeks your heart in worship. There you will find relief and His peace which passes understanding in ways no words can express.

Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker (Psalms 95:6).

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks (John 4:23).