A cacophony of voices speak over and around us. It’s difficult to sort through all the noise packed within our busy lives. Social media influencers, newscasters, and politicians all vie for our rapt attention. But how are we to discern truth in the midst of this chaos? Is listening for God’s voice within a noisy world an impossible dream?
God’s Word still speaks to us today. However, without intentionally seeking the Lord on a regular basis, we allow these other voices to drown him out.
Yet even those faithful followers of the Lord sometimes find themselves overwhelmed and questioning the validity of the Message. God, is this really you I’m hearing?
Such was the case with Elijah after he defeated the prophets of Baal. His zeal and fearlessness for carrying out God’s will were unprecedented. But when circumstances appeared to turn and Queen Jezabel threatened to murder him, Elijah ran for his life.
He came to a broom bush, sat down under it, and prayed that he might die. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
1 Kings 19:4-5 NIV
Angels ministered to Elijah in his exhausted state with food and water. After resting to regain his strength, he traveled to Mt. Horeb seeking the Lord. At the end of forty days, he arrived at the mountain of God and slept in a cave.
And the word of the Lord came 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, torn 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.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
1 Kings 19:9-11 NIV
Elijah experienced a powerful wind then an earthquake followed by fire. But the Lord was not within any of these. Only in the silence after the storm, Elijah heard a gentle whisper—the still, small voice of God directing his next move and reassuring him that seven thousand Israelites remained who had not bowed the knee to Baal or Queen Jezabel.
Elijah was not alone. And neither are you and me. God and other faithful souls stand beside us even within the chaos.
Since Hurricane Helene struck Appalachia with such force this last September, I have been listening for God’s voice to direct me. What is the best way to help my neighbors through this crisis? With my church family, we expanded services we already provided the community by opening our food pantry and clothes closet daily.
Recently, we donated a monetary collection of $11,000 to a local wood ministry that provides firewood for over eighty families to heat their homes. In addition, our pastor applied for and received a grant for another $15,000 for the purchase of a wood processor. This will make the wood splitting safer and more efficient. Joining others in what God is already doing in our community is one step toward healing and restoration. But is there more He is calling us to do?
This past weekend, I traveled with a group from our church to Raleigh NC for the Connect Church orientation run by the North Carolina Rural Center. We met with 20 other rural church groups from around the state. It was a rowdy bunch of Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians as well as those from the Church of God, all there with the same purpose: listening for God’s voice to determine how best to help our communities. Over the next year, each church group will meet with a mentor provided by the NC Rural Center to work through a process of discernment before deciding on a project. Next January we’ll all come together again in Raleigh for a celebration and a $10,000 grant will be awarded for each church to carry out their plan.
God is on the move and still speaking even within a noisy world.
Like Elijah, we must step away from the powerful winds, the earthquakes, and the fires in our lives to hear Him clearly. Listening for God’s voice requires us to push aside all distractions. Only then are we able to hear Him whisper in a still, small voice to our soul.
This is where I need you. Are you willing to go where I lead?
*Featured Image courtesy of Canva
