The great prophet Elijah had just won a magnificent show-down against the prophets of Baal, and the Lord had answered by fire. Now he was running for his life from the wicked Queen Jezebel, and hiding in a cave (I Kings 19). The Lord told him to go out as He was about to pass by. Elijah recognized that the Lord was not in the great hurricane-force wind that came, nor in the earthquake that followed, or even in the fire that was next. Elijah recognized the Lord in His last demonstration of power - His still, small voice. Some translations say a delicate or gentle whisper.

Many times we are expecting the Lord to make His will known to us in an extraordinary way that we will not miss. But many do miss answers because they are not paying attention to how God speaks much of the time, in a still, small voice. He will speak to us through His Word, and we just know which scripture is our answer. Other times He will speak by placing a thought in our minds that is easy to miss if we aren't paying attention.

This happened a couple times to me in the last few weeks. We were in a dollar store and I was looking at the food in the freezer section. I spotted bags of frozen berries and had the thought to buy a couple bags, which I ignored. I wish I'd gotten them as now all the fresh fruit I had is gone and I would sure love to have the frozen berries to put in my yogurt.

The following week I had to go to the pharmacy, so my husband asked me to pick up something for him at the hardware store. I had the thought that I should call to see if they were open. I looked online for the phone number, but when I saw they were open, I didn't call. I should have, for even though they were open, they were operating under the closed-door policy. I would have had to call in the order for the bag to be waiting outside for me.

I was able to get what he needed in another store, but I had to go inside and be in close proximity to those who were helping me find it. I would have been much safer if I'd listened to God's gentle whisper to call first.

Isaiah 30:21 says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” God knows the way we should take. He is willing to give us the specific instructions that we need to help us through our days and especially through these precarious times we are living in.

It takes practice to learn how to recognize God's still, small voice. The more time we spend with someone, the easier it is to know their voice. As we spend quiet time alone with the Lord as often as possible, He will teach us the sound of His voice.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 482-5300.