Looking for God in All the Wrong Places
For some reason today I thought about the scripture about God not being in the wind or earthquake but in the still small voice and I looked it up.
11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 11-13
I was really blessed as I read the chapter. Oh that Elijah, he reminds me of someone I know. As I read the chapter the old song Looking for Love In All The Wrong Places came to mind however, I thought I’d change it to “Looking for God In All The Wrong Places.” I think I do that all too often.Elijah had just come out of an experience where he had put the prophets of baal to shame. He had proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that his God was the true and the living God, yet here Elijah sat under a juniper tree, desolated, disappointed, filled with self pity after he had fled from Jezebel, someone whose God he’d just defeated.
God desired to speak to Elijah and told him to stand on the mount before him. During that time Elijah saw a strong wind break the mountain in some places. He experienced an earthquake and a fire but God did not speak to him through any of these huge events. Instead God spoke to him in a still small voice.
So many times in life we look for God to speak to us through earth shattering events. We want the bank to call and say the mortgage is paid off. We want the instant miracles. We want our friends and family salvation right now, and the list goes on… If these ‘big’ things happen then we feel as if God is speaking. However God does not only speak through the “big events,” while the bank may not call to say the mortgage is paid the fact that I have the monthly payment is reason enough to be thankful. Some members of my family may have not yet accepted Christ the fact that they are still alive and still have an opportunity to accept him is reason enough to be thankful, and yet like Elijah I sometimes forget…
God speaks to us everyday through his still small voice but do we recognize it or are we looking for God in all the wrong places?
I was not feeling well for the few days so I decided to repost an old post.
Bernadine, that is still a message for today. Often we look for the big miracles all while missing out on the everyday blessings. Hope you feel better!
Thank you, Laurie. I am feeling much better.
This is so wonderful and beautifully written. Thank you and bless you so much. Such a profound message. Sorry you’re unwell, Get well soon!
Thank you, Kate
Praying for you. You always lift me up.
Thank you, Luwana. You are a blessing.
Yes, sometimes we forget how mighty our God truly is. We do have to remember the small things, and not only the big ones.
I am sorry that you have not been feeling well; I hope you are better today.
Thank you, Iris. I am feeling much better.