Tuesday August 25, 2020

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. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings 19:11–14)

Even when Elijah saw all the power of God and spoke with God, he still had fear, worry, and doubt. Elijah saw what God was capable of in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. He saw how mighty the Almighty is. But God did not speak to Elijah from those displays of power. Instead, God was in the gentle whisper. The one thing that wasn’t destructive. The one thing that showed Elijah that God cared about him. Yet Elijah still had his fear and his doubts. God assured him that there were still seven thousand people left in Israel who did not worship other gods.

It is easy for us to tell someone else to look in our Bibles and hear of God’s promises when they face doubts and fears. But when it comes to our own doubts and fears that’s easier said than done. Our doubts and our fears cause us to look at what we can see. They make us look at what is perceivable and try to reason with the information we have. But God whispers to us through his Word and tells us that we need to trust him. He is in control and he has control over the things that bring about our doubts and our worries.

When you face doubts and fears, listen to the gentle whisper of God’s Word. Be comforted by knowing that you are not alone. God is with you and he has given you brothers and sisters in the faith. Amen.

Our song for today is “Oh My Soul” by Casting Crowns

https://youtu.be/Tn5aq54yu8A