In the Old Testament book of 1 Kings, the prophet Elijah had fled the wicked king Ahab and his wife Jezebel, for they were trying to kill him. The bible tells us that Elijah walked 40 days and 40 nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. This is likely the same mountain that Moses met with God to receive the 10 commandments. 1 Kings 19:9-11, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.” Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” The chapter goes on to tell us that a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks, but the Lord was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. But, after the fire, came a still small voice and when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and stood at the mouth of the cave.

How many times do we cry out to God in our despair? As I was reading my morning devotionals today, I was reminded how the enemy will use every circumstance to his advantage to keep my eyes from focusing on the Lord. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3) How easy it is in our busy lives to lose our focus on the Lord! How do you hear the Lord when he is speaking to you, over the chaos of this world? We may not be experiencing rock shattering wind, earthquakes, and fire, simultaneously in our daily lives…but we are all experiencing trials. Can you hear the Lord when he response to your cry? Can you hear him over the noise from social media, your job, your family obligations…? We are pulled in so many different directions and bombarded with information constantly. How can we hear the Lord’s still small voice?

I have found that my quiet time in the morning is so important! Just taking some time to unplug, read from his word, and pray. Sometimes when I pray, I don’t even speak…I just listen. These are the moments, when I can set aside the frenzy of my day and come before his throne of Grace; lay my heart at his feet and listen as he speaks to me. Now, for those who know me…you will know this is no small task. I am hyper! I am ALWAYS going! But I am learning that taking that time to just stop, even for a few minutes, recharges my soul and gives me the strength to get through my crazy, hectic, and overwhelming day!

Can you relate, dear friend? Are you fleeing from the trials that are seeming to overtake you? Does it seem hard sometimes just to breathe? Take a few minutes, stop, turn off your phone, your mind, and all the distractions of this world and just listen. Listen as the God of the mountain, the God of the earthquake, the God of the fire, speaks to your heart.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jerimiah 17:7-8)