Our need for silence…

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1 Kings 19:9-16

At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave, where he took shelter.
But the word of the LORD came to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing 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 there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?”
He replied, “I have been most zealous for the LORD,
the God of hosts.
But the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant,
torn down your altars,
and put your prophets to the sword.
I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.”
The LORD said to him,
“Go, take the road back to the desert near Damascus.
When you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king of Aram.
Then you shall anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel,
and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah,
as prophet to succeed you.”

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I much prefer music to silence while driving in the car. 

Nine times out of ten, it’s music I’ve downloaded onto my iPhone. Listening to the radio just demands too much attention.

I literally have to turn the knob to the left or the right until I find the right station. 

It’s terribly frustrating, because one turn too far to the left or the right creates static, muffling the music; you have to dial the station in perfectly.

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Doesn’t it feel, at times, like our lives are turned one click too far to the left or the right? As if there’s just a bunch of static playing in our ears?

Think of all the voices constantly vying for our attention. There’s the radio; the news; social media; friends; family; voices at home and at work.

Silence is rarely an option.

But that’s most often when we hear the voice of the Lord.

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In our first reading, for example, the Lord tells Elijah that he will pass by. So, Elijah rushes outside and waits.

First comes a strong, heavy wind. But it wasn’t the Lord. Then an earthquake follows. Then fire. But the Lord wasn’t present in any of it.

The Lord spoke in a whisper, a voice so quiet Elijah needed silence to hear it. 

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How much time do I spend in silence each day, listening for the voice of the Lord?

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Often, it’s much easier said than done. But like Elijah, we all want to hear God speak. 

It’s just a matter of making the right adjustments like a radio; of tuning out – and tuning in. 

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Image credits: (1) Pin on Giving Pause (2) The Gentle Art of Blessing (3) Chronic Joy