02.16. CHAPTER 12 - THE GENTLE WHISPER OF GOD
CHAPTER 12 - THE GENTLE WHISPER OF GOD "I stand silently before the Lord.....Why then should I be tense with fear" (Psalms 62:1-2 - Living).
Haven’t we all felt discouraged at times?
Haven’t we felt like running away from some difficult situation? The great prophet Elijah once felt like that too. He had stood alone for the Lord at a time when others in Israel had backslidden (1 Kings 18:1-46). But after that great victory, he ran away from his appointed place. He ran 500 kilometres and finally found himself at Mount Horeb, with an earthquake and a windstorm and a fire around him (1 Kings 19:1-21). But there was a greater storm than all of these within his own heart. But Elijah was not alone on that mountain. Just as God had been with him when he took a stand for the Lord on Carmel, God was with Him when he ran away in fear and despair as well. As mothers, we may find ourselves in situations at times, where a storm rages within our hearts, and we feel like running away somewhere. But our heavenly Father is so compassionate that He will stand by us, speak to us tenderly, and encourage us, even if we are fed up with life, like Elijah was. At such times we must refuse to listen to the stormy voices of self-pity, because they will lead us to do and say many things that we will regret later on. Instead, let us do what Elijah did, when he was discouraged: Listen for the "sound of a gentle whisper" (1 Kings 19:12 - Living) . Above the windstorm and the earthquake, the Friend of sinners, Who understands our every weakness, seeks to speak to us. That gentle whisper alone can bring comfort to our souls. The storm will be stilled, and peace will reign in our hearts.
David said, "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me.....How precious it is, Lord, to realize that You are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day Your thoughts turn towards me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me" (Psalms 139:7; Psalms 139:9-10; Psalms 139:17-18 - Living).
"Peace, Fear not, It is I," said Jesus, with gentleness to His disciples, as He came walking to them over the very waves and the sea that they feared would drown them. In no time at all the storm was stilled. And He is the same today - to still every storm in our lives that may cause us to fear or despair. "Thy gentleness makes me great" (Psalms 18:35). Do we face hostility from others? Then consider Him Who endured contradiction and hostility from sinners against Himself (Hebrews 12:3). The enmity we face from even friends and relatives are only indications that we are on the right path. Along that path, we see Jesus, our Forerunner - Who also suffered hostility, but Who did not yield to self-pity, criticism, or complaining, but instead overcame evil with good. When He suffered, He did not threaten, but forgave and blessed His accusers. He listened to the gentle whisper of His Father and committed His cause to Him. Our Father Who watches everything that everyone says and does, will judge everything righteously one day, and there is no partiality with Him, because He is aware of the true facts in every situation.
If we do what Jesus did, we will be able to overcome all feelings of self-pity, and exult with joy that we have a share in the fellowship of His sufferings. Then we will also be able to finish with all reviling, slander, accusations, demands, self-defense, self-justification, and self-pity.
Let us allow the Lord then to crush our Self-life through such fiery trials. From that death to Self will arise a fragrance in resurrection-power to God’s glory. And we will hear Him saying, "You are my beloved daughter, with whom I am well-pleased". That word of approval will be our greatest reward.
Let silence reign then within our heart at all times, for it is now God’s holy temple. "The Lord is in His holy temple. Be silent all flesh before the Lord." (Habakkuk 2:20; Zechariah 2:13). By such tranquillity and silence under provocation, we will prove that we are true servants of our Lord Who told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this earth. If it were, my servants would fight" (John 18:36).
Jesus is King. Earthly Pilates and their soldiers are all but slaves of our God. And He Who "turned the curse into a blessing" for His people centuries ago, will do the same for us even today (Deuteronomy 23:5).
God invites us to "BE STILL (relax, cease striving and let go) - and recognise that He is God" (Psalms 46:10).
Yes, God is Sovereign. All authority in heaven and on earth are still in His hands. He is our Creator, Redeemer, Master and Lord. All that He sends across our path has been doubly filtered through the micro-filters of 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Romans 8:28. So we can be at rest at all times. In the thick of the battle, when the fire is hottest, we will hear His gentle whisper telling us, "My grace IS sufficient for you, even in this situation. I will not allow you to be tested or tempted beyond what you are able to bear. I will make all that you are facing to work together for your very best - to transform you increasingly into My likeness."
Yes, even the weakest among us sisters can come out triumphant.
"Drop Thy still dews of quietness
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress
And let our ordered lives confess -
The beauty of Thy peace."