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As I sit, I listen to the wind whistling by our house.

The gusty fall winds stirr up everything, and the leaves dance to the sound of their blowing. Even the branches of the trees sway in harmony as the leaves rush by our home. All the animals and birds disappear, seeking more hospitable habitats.

As Elijah waited to hear God’s voice, he did not hear it in the tornado-like winds that rushed by him. Instead, the still, small voice of God repeated to him the same question he had already heard: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah, probably like us, was attracted to the possibility of hearing God’s voice in the commotion of life. However, although God had just answered by fire from heaven, consuming not only his offering but also the altar and everything about it, Elijah still wasn’t satisfied.

Rather than waiting for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit to speak to me through the Word of God, I impatiently wait for God to do some extraordinary thing. Instead of relishing in the grace I have already been shown through the death of Jesus, I hope God will rectify all my problems with disagreeable people so they will all agree with me. Rather than being still and knowing that He is God, I stew about the next thing that is going to happen because of COVID-19 and get depressed when circumstances around me change or I run out of money.

“What are you doing here?” patiently asks God’s still, small voice. Of course, He already knows the answer, but waits for us to respond. He wants us to reply, “I am here, waiting to hear Your voice.” That reassuring voice comes to us as if He were reminding us, “Never fear; I am here.”

Stop right where you are and listen for God’s voice of direction. It probably will not come in a clap of thunder or a rush of wind, but through the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)