1 King 19:11-13: 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.

Gratitude Day 964

There is this belief that the louder we talk; the more people will listen. While there is some truth in this, it always amazes how often people respond more favorably to a calm, quiet voice.

Think about an interaction with a child. Our go-to voice when we want to make a point is for a voice to get loud. To yell. To demand attention. Yes, this does work. Yet, there are so many instances I can think of when a calm, steady voice actually accomplished more than the loud and boisterous voice. A quiet voice will often calm down the situation. Prevent more people from becoming agitated. Lower everyone’s stress and make the situation more likely for resolution.

Even though this isn’t often our go-to, when we let ourselves be a calming presence in a tough situation, it’s amazing how much this will change the entire situation. Most people take a step back. Re-evaluate how they are speaking. And maybe a little progress can be accomplished when everyone seems a bit calmer.

Should this be a surprise? Probably not. But every time this happens, people are often amazed how quickly the whole tenor of the situation can shift.

Should this be a surprise? Probably not. Actually, this approach isn’t new. It’s one that God often used.

God knew the way to get someone’s attention wasn’t always shouting from a mountain top and demanding attention. Sometimes, actually, often, the best way to get someone’s attention is quietly. Softly. With a whisper. Maybe even silence.

Yes, it goes against every grain of common sense. But it’s true. A quiet voice, a few deep breaths and a calm presence can make all the difference.

Actually, it’s biblical. Elijah wanted God’s presence in his life desperately. God sends him to the top of a mountain with the instructions to look for God. First, a terrible wind came. No God. Then, a strong earthquake. Still no God. A fire would surely help him find God, right? Wrong. It wasn’t until God came quietly, in a whisper that could have been easily missed did Elijah hear God. After all that noise and confusion and anticipation of seeing God, Imagine God showing up in a whisper.

Yet, that’s exactly what God did.

As much as we look for God in all the loud and flashy and noisy places, more often, I think God shows up in the stillness. The quiet. The places in which we’d not expect God. This is where God shows up because God’s love language is silence. A whisper. The voice that no one expects. Present and ready and excited to be with us.

Compare this with what much of culture says. Want to be heard? Be loud. Really loud. Take center stage and demand attention. The larger the stage, the bigger the boom, the more God will say, right?

Wrong.

Thank goodness we have a God that shows up so completely different than we expect. In the quiet whisper or stone cold silence because this is the language God loves. And longs for us to embrace, live and share with others.

Elijah’s story is a great reminder. Stop looking for God in the big and bold. Look for God in exactly the last places you’d expect God. No guarantees, but this is more likely to be his hang-out place. Where no one expects God. With a quiet voice that might be easy to miss. Just above a whisper because this is how God shows up.

Imagine what this world might be like if more of us embraced God’s love language of quiet and calm over loud and crazy. How calm and all of our lives would feel if we expected and respected God’s desire to show up in the quiet.

Here’s the deal. God longs for God to be present in you. God’s willing and waiting. Will you see God in the quiet and then invite God in? Want to feel closer to God and more inline with God in your life? Master hearing God in the quiet. The still. The everyday moments that are nothing spectacular and everything important.

Look for them. Embrace them. You might be amazed where you find God.

Blessings –

Dianne

Lord God – Affirm for me that more often you are present with me than I realize. May I discover that You more often show up in quiet whispers of life than the loud moments. Challenge me to look for you there. Amen.

Looking for a bit of daily inspiration? Check out my daily affirmation posts on Facebook and Instagram (Dianne Deaton Vielhuber and Simple Words of Faith.)

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