God is speaking

This is one of those topics that seems simple, at least to me, but God always has something to say when it comes to this! To this day I am mesmerized by how He can teach me something new every single time. This time, it was something that has been on my mind for a very long time, but it was almost like a switch; on and off the whole time. So, when did this lesson come to mind again?

This blog took a long time to get where it is now, and there is still a lot more improving that needs to be done. As I reached a point where I could upload content, I did not want to write something out of my own desire. To ensure my heart and mind was aligned with Him, I put on worship music and prayed. It was filled with passion and excitement, a readiness to do more and glorify His name in every piece I write. But when I uttered ‘amen,’ I was met with silence. Well, so I thought.

I opened my eyes, and not even a second later, I saw the flashing of lightning. It does not seem significant, too much like a coincidence. But there was something different about this sight, something God wanted to remind me of, because the flashing of lightning was neither loud, nor consistent. It was once, silent, then gone. I could not contain my smile; my Father heard my prayer! Not long after my prayer, this is what I sent to myself to remember it:

‘Sometimes God speaks in ways you don’t always expect. I asked Him to speak to me and make it clear what He wants me to write about. I say amen and immediately, thunder. Perfectly timed, after I finished praying and opened my eyes. Once. Subtle and silent, but evidently there.’

I was reminded of 1 Kings 19:11−12, where the prophet Elijah faced a death threat from Queen Jezebel after a great victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Despite his previous profound courage, he falls into a state of fear and despair, fleeing to the wilderness, where he travelled forty days and forty nights to Mount Horeb. Then we read how God meets the prophet Elijah in his despair, and it may not be as one thinks!

The narrative describes a series of natural phenomena: a powerful wind, an earthquake, and finally, a fire. These are dramatic displays of power, demanding attention. However, God was not in any of these displays. Rather, He came as a ‘gentle whisper’: quiet and internal.

The phrase in Hebrew translates to “a sound of gentle stillness,” or as we may commonly know it, “a still small voice.” Although it is difficult to translate the phrase precisely, there is no denying that the definition of a voice that is also silence suggests that it transcends physical noise. Who better to defy what human minds comprehend than our Mighty God? It also shows that, though He is still capable of miracles, He might not always be found in it.

Elijah likely had an expectation that God would continue using these dramatic and miraculous signs to judge Israel, yet He revealed Himself through the quietness of His Word, showing His tenderness and restorative presence. And imagine this as well: a prophet suffering from exhaustion and a sense of failure, a still small voice may not seem powerful at first. But it is especially significant because it requires more attention, deliberately seeking to hear it.

I have been in very crowded rooms where people needed to whisper, and even standing right next to me, I had to lend an ear to hear and focus on what they were saying, whereas if they were speaking loudly, it was merely listening, not seeking to hear. So, as I prayed for God to speak to me and He answered with a silent, subtle flash of lightning, I knew He was still speaking to me nonetheless. Just as Ephesians 3:20 reminds us, He is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” This is a reminder that though we may ask God for something, to speak to us directly, He is able to do far more than we have even asked for.

I want to remind you that God is always listening; He hears us (Jeremiah 29:13). His answer may not be as you expected or prayed for, but He is not limited to our way of thinking. He is an infinite God who cares deeply for us. God does not ignore us, but it also becomes difficult to hear His voice when we have already decided how He should respond. Just like God encountered the prophet Elijah in a manner far beyond what he likely expected, God can encounter us in stillness, in a personal and quiet encounter.