The Gentle Whisper...

July 28, 2009

Danielle Joyner Kelley

“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.” 1 Kings 19:11-12.

When we focus on the storms of life, we often forget the lesson that we are being taught. As humans, we seek the dramatic, and we pay attention to the thunder and lightening. We get bogged down, and forget what we are capable of doing ourselves during the storm.

For years, people have thought God was the storm. Thus, through a bad time in life, they focus on why He is creating or allowing the storm to occur. However, God has shown us that not only is He not the storm, the storm is blocking you from seeing where He really is when you focus on it. The lesson is not the storm itself, but that we should not focus on the extremes, the storm nor the quiet. We should not because God’s answer is in the whisper.

In two of the most famous stories in the Bible, we see what God is trying to tell us. When Peter walked on water, he was walking in faith towards Jesus. “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” Matthew 14:29. It was not until Peter saw the wind that he lost his focus and fell into the water. “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:30-31.

God wasn’t that wind. He was in front of Peter watching him walk. Not until Peter gave into fear from the wind did he fall into the water. God wanted him to have faith, and not be afraid.
Again, we see the storm become the focus. “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Mark 4:37-40.
Jesus was with them, and the storm still frightened them. They knew He was the Son of God and the Messiah, but during their fear they called Him “Teacher”.

The bigger lesson is learned. He is not the storm, but He has more power than it. Fear will make you fall and question everything. In both stories Jesus references their lack of faith when the storm scared them.

The real miracles were in walking on water and calming the storm. With true faith, you not only do not fear the storm, but you are able to carry out amazing acts during the time most would fall.

God is in the whisper, and completely in control of the outcome. It is the storm that brings the fear, not the One who controls the ending. In the ending you are secure; therefore, keep your faith during the storm.

Focusing on the One who controls the outcome, and not the wind, accomplishes the greatest miracle of all:

Faith over fear prevents any fall.