So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks 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. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. – 1 Kings 19:11-12
You know, I am always looking for the Lord. At least assurance of His presence. Something to let me know, “Hey, look here!” or “Wow, God did that unbelievable thing just now, wasn’t that just spectacular?”
I want Him to show up (as I recently joked with a friend of mine) with flashing neon lights or maybe His own personal marching band.
We are so trained to look for God in the huge, the flashy, the loud. Because that’s how important people show up, right?
But here is what I have learned from this verse: God is in the hushed. He’s in the unassuming, the tiny, the details, and the mundane. In fact He’s not in those things, He is those things.
The Lord is not the one in the red cape (look, up in the sky!) swooping in to save the day. He’s the peace that trickled into your heart while you waited to be rescued.
God is not the bold claim for a cure offered from a microphone in a fine Italian suit, standing in front of the multitude. He’s the daily dose of hope that helps you make it out of bed the next morning, knowing that the healing was denied.
Christ is not the gold-plated figure surrounded by stained glass. He’s the delight that floods your heart when you enter into a beautiful place to worship your King.
I’ve been looking for him in the wrong places all along. As Addison Road sings in today’s song, I’ve tried to hear from heaven, but I’ve talked the whole time.
I will find him in the quiet, in those little pieces of His grace that He so readily gives me, that I so often completely miss.
Are you looking for Him today? Are you waiting for Him to show up? He’s here. That’s Him in the extra edge to the longing you feel. That’s Him in the flare of hope. That’s Him in the silence. Waiting for you. As He has been all along.
Dear God, help us to see You clearly. Help us to recognize You when we do. And thank You for always, always showing up. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
My heart loves this – it’s like a chorus – the two of us – I see love letters from Him in tree limbs raised praising Him, in cardinals darting out ahead of my path, in water rivulets in a thunderstorm! Oh, blessings, friend, in the places you will find Him this week!
So glad to have you singing with me, and just love the pictures your words painted in my mind and heart! Blessings to you as well!! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
It’s very beautiful and a message well worth heeding. 🙂 Thank you for linking to Super Sunday Sync.
Thank you for encouraging me, Rosey! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
This post is beautiful! I pray that my heart is open to see God in the small things.
Thanks for sharing at Essential Fridays.
Blessings
Mel from Essential Thing Devotions.
Mel+Caldicott recently posted…I’m Not Going to Make Christmas Special this Year!
Thanks so much for your visit and sweet comment, Mel! Merry Christmas! <3 Heart Hugs
Where’s a good burning bush when you need one, right? I’ve often wished for God to show up in the dramatic and although He does sometimes…you are right that He more often shows up in the still, small, quiet. “In the hushed” is a wonderful way to describe this. Because when I hush long enough, when I hush the world, when I hush my harried life, I can finally hear his words. Loved this post, sweet friend!
I guess maybe God figured after sending His Son and His Word into our lives, a burning bush is so blase’. 😉 Now if only I could just remember that. And like you, remember to hush myself enough to listen. Merry Christmas, Holly!! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3