The Still Small Voice That Encourages Us

And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:1-13 ESV) Encouragement is something we all could use. This is true no matter whether we are faced with the challenges that come to us on every side, or those that come from deep within. In Christ, God has spoken another word that fills us with confidence in Him and in what He has done for us. It is this still small voice that propels us into a life of faith and trust in Him. Today at International Lutheran Church, we hear this still small voice and are sent into the world to share this Good News with all.

Many of you are aware that I am currently traveling throughout the US sharing with many the amazing things God is doing at and through International Lutheran Church. It is a time of great encouragement for me personally but also for us as a family and as a congregation to know that so many are praying, giving, and looking for ways they can support personally what we are doing together in sharing the Good News of God’s love for us all in Christ. We all need support and encouragement for each and every day, but especially as a congregation. Just as we can sometimes feel like we are all alone, our collective integration or support is not always apparent. And even though we experience the presence of God in mighty ways like Elijah, still we are creatures that need a closer understanding and affirmation of how we are connected to one another. Sometimes we might be shocked at how quickly Elijah is fleeing into the wilderness in fear and even after such a major demonstration of the reality of God’s almighty power and presence (1 Kings 18:20-48). Yet are we any different? Again and again, day by day we experience the richness of God’s provision and still we can easily be overcome by the negativity from within and without that causes us to “run,” and feel like we are “all alone.”

But God doesn’t leave us there. As we read this morning in the Old Testament lesson, Elijah was far from alone as God came to comfort His Prophet in just the way He would encourage us. You see, God’s appearance was not in the rock-splitting wind or fire-engulfing flames or even the earth-shattering earthquake. Instead, God came as an encouragement to Elijah and us in the low whisper and the simple question about his own situation (1 Kings 19:1-21): “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Before we read that as a rebuke, consider this: there are two parts to this question, and both are a simple and gentle reminder to Elijah and us of the way God Himself has answered this very question in the person of His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. For one, He is HERE! That in itself is both terrifying and comforting at the same time as we stand in and before His Holy nature and person – yet are made holy in that Presence and Nature. In the Word that we hear (preached Word), feel (the Word in Baptism) and taste (the Word and Promise in the Supper) God affirms for us that He is HERE for us. He is not here to destroy or condemn but to forgive and restore. And this is the second part of the question – He is here FOR us! Forgiveness and restoration, renewal and resurrection are His presence for us. God speaks the Word that won’t and can’t come from within, nor ever from the world around us, but only comes to us from Him, namely that He does see, that He does care, and that He has done something already for us that no person has seen or even imagined, that He would give Himself for us upon the cross. This is the encouragement that we receive in Him and that we proclaim to the world. It is the Word alone that can lift our spirits in His Spirit!

As we continue to encourage those who are encouraging us in our ministry together, my thoughts and prayers are with each of you that we all would be encouraged by this still small voice of God’s forgiving love for us in Jesus. God bless and keep you in His care.

Pastor Carl