“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand at the mountain before the Lord. The Lord is passing by.’ A very strong wind tore through the mountains and broke apart the stones before the Lord. But the Lord wasn’t in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake.
But the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire.
But the Lord wasn’t in the fire. After the fire, there was a sound. Thin. Quiet.
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his coat. He went out and stood at the cave’s entrance. A voice came to him and said, ‘Why are you here, Elijah?'”
~1 Kings 19:11-13 (CEB)
There’s an inspiring story about Elijah the prophet. His life was in danger and he had to make a run for it. Elijah ended up in the desert alone, at the end of his rope. He was afraid and overwhelmed. An angel came to him in the desert and woke him up from a nap, encouraging him to eat some cake baked on hot stones and drink from a jar of water. Elijah slept some more, and again the angel encouraged him to eat to get strength for his journey. Elijah ended up traveling for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness (sound familiar?). His destination was Horeb, the mountain of God.
Then Elijah had an experience that has stayed with people of faith ever since. Standing outside on the mountain before God, Elijah waited to encounter the Holy One. Though God wasn’t in the wind. And God wasn’t in the earthquake. God wasn’t in the fire. Can you imagine how Elijah must have felt with experiencing a strong wind tearing through the mountains, an earthquake shaking the ground, and a fire appearing out of nowhere?
After all these displays of power and might, there was a sound.
The sound of sheer silence.
Thin. Quiet.
In the quiet, Elijah heard the still small voice of God ask, “Why are you here, Elijah?”
We may have moments of feeling overwhelmed by it all ourselves.
There are some funny reflections on Elijah’s story that remind people to drink some water, eat some food, take a nap, and then start thinking about what may lie ahead of us.
Not bad advice!
We can also remember that God sometimes shows up in unexpected ways and unexpected places.
I love the description of God present in the sound of sheer silence.
There was a sound, but it was thin and quiet.
God wasn’t in the howling wind, rumbling earthquake, and fierce flames.
It was in the quiet moment after all of that showy stuff that Elijah heard God’s voice speaking to him.
As we continue on our Lenten journeys, may God give us moments of peace and quiet to truly listen to God’s still small voice in our hearts.
Love,
Pastor Lauren
Photo by Rev. Lauren Ostrout, taken while on silent retreat at Gonzaga Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, MA.
Thursday Thoughts 3/7/24
Lauren Ostrout ~ on being made well 
I love this picture, and I know this passage. It is a favorite.
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People who come to Christ need someone to encourage them to grow in the Lord. The silence is a golden moment when God wants to talk individually with us, and He is looking for those with Ears to Hear what He is saying. We have eyes that are spiritual, and we see with spiritual eyes when we focus on God, and seek His face. What I love about the Old Testament is the people who were leaders, who didn’t back down when it was time to take a stand.
My favorites have been Elijah, and Elisha, Moses, and David. I would read their stories as a young teen. I would save my questions for someone who could answer with wisdom. Mom brought me to Christ, so I would ask her questions.
I believe today I am blessed, because of the silence around me, where no one is talking. I would stay quiet while my husband would get his sermons. I didn’t know that he studied so long, and it had to be very, quiet for him. We lived in a small, home, and it would get quiet for hours. I decided to find God on my own when he did. It worked.
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