Elijah and the Still Small Voice

After defeating 450 false prophets on Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah should have been full of courage. But the wicked queen Jezebel threatened to kill him, and Elijah ran into the desert, sat under a tree, and prayed to die. He was completely broken. "I have had enough, Lord," he said.

An angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat — the journey is too much for you." There beside him was freshly baked bread and a jar of water. Elijah ate, slept, and ate again. God fed him before speaking to him. Then Elijah traveled forty days to Mount Horeb — the mountain of God.

God passed by in a mighty wind that tore the mountains apart — but God was not in the wind. Then came a great earthquake — but God was not there either. Then fire — still, God was not in it. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he covered his face and stepped out. God spoke to him quietly, restored his strength, and sent him back to continue his mission. God meets us not always in the spectacular, but in the quiet, gentle whisper of His love.