SSSHHH....Do You Hear It?

Picture by Caprice Miller

“So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.  There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.  But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”” - 1 Kings 19:8-9

When Caprice sent this picture she mentioned that the fish didn’t have a name.  “How sad to have no name.” she said.  When you look at it you can kinda see that is looks a bit scared.  No wonder it’s found its way to this little aquarium cave.  I can imagine this little nook of a cave might give it some solitude so it can rest...I assume fish do that.  I know humans have to.    Many of us would probably like to find a cave of our own to find some solitude and rest for ourselves.  It’s a crazy world out there and sometimes we find ourselves caught up in the whirlwind of it all.  Our lives can become so out of control that we can’t even remember who we are much less how we ended up where we are.  Not that we forget our names, but more of our identity.  The thought comes to mind that “If I can’t remember who I am, does anyone else know who I am?”   Have we become just “another fish in the tank” swimming aimlessly in an exhausted stupor not knowing where to go or who to turn to?

When we find ourselves in this state of mind, it is so easy to isolate ourselves and think we are the only ones to ever experience this feeling of exhaustion and aloneness.  But we certainly are not.  The Bible shows us someone who experienced this.  One of the interesting things about this person is that when he experienced this emotional valley, he had just had the amazing opportunity to demonstrate God’s power as he defeated 400 prophets of Baal.  But then a not-so-lady-like lady named Jezebel got really mad because those guys were on her side.  She decided she would kill Elijah.  So, he does what most of us would do, he jerked up his cloak and took off!  But wait, isn’t this the guy who just defeated those 400 prophets of Baal in the name of God?  Shouldn’t he have even more confidence to stand up against this “lady” and say “COME AT ME!” knowing he is God’s man?  But this is what happens when we go too long and hit the preverbal wall.    We begin to feel as though we could be invincible, especially after something amazing happens in our lives.  We keep trying to ride that wave but eventually, it has to crash and we end up beached or worse, drowning in the undertow. 

If you continue to read in 1 Kings 19:10-14 we see how God takes care of Elijah by slowing him down, giving him rest, nourishing him and providing shelter.  We also read that God tells Elijah He is about to pass by and how God was not in the mighty wind or the earthquake or the fire that passes.  You then read,

“And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” – 1 King 19:12b “…Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”” – 1 King 19:13b

The picture that comes to mind is a father that finds his son lost, hungry and exhausted.  Initially the father says “What are you doing here!?”  The son cries and starts trying to tell him what’s wrong.  Then the father comes closer, puts his arm around him and says “son, what are you doing here?” 

When we get to that place where we just want to curl up and cry and the world has just left us in an exhausted, hungry heap, know that you are not alone.  God is right there.  He knows who you are and what you need.  The wind will be strong, the earthquakes will shake you, and the fire will possibly scorch you, but be still and listen for the gentle whisper.  God is drawing near to put His comforting arm around you so you can tell Him all about it. 

SSSSHHHHHH…..do you hear Him????