10/01/2026
"... but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave." First Kings 19:11b-13a NRSV
Dear friends,
The verses above are familiar to many of us, except the wording from this particular translation, the New Revised Standard Version, is somewhat different than the King James Version that many of us grew up with. In the King James, instead of the phrase, "a sound of sheer silence," the phrase "a still, small voice" is used. The poetic nature of that particular phrase stays in our memories. The story, of course, is about a revelation to the prophet Elijah that God doesn't always speak in loud ways that we might associate with power, but that God often speaks to us in ways that might be considered "little" or "quiet." It was the quiet sound that got Elijah's attention, not the big things.
When we're seeking to hear from God in a time of questioning, confusion, or even fear, God can and does sometimes speak to us in things that we might think of as ordinary. The touch of a loved one's hand, a kind word spoken, an act of generosity, a family member going to work to provide for the others in the home, a lovely little flower by the sidewalk. None of these things are spectacular. All of these thing are powerful.
Grace & Peace!
Pastor Jonathan
