Be Still and Listen

1 Kings 19:1-13 KJV

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Elijah was a great prophet of the Lord. He had done mighty works in God's name. He had stood up to false prophets. He had proven the prophets of Baal as fakes. He had raised a boy from the dead (through his prayers and supplications). However, even this great man of God felt defeated when Jezebel threatened him.

He ran and asked the Lord to let him die. I would call this depression. He let the fears of this world overcome him and block out the truths he knew of God.

God was right there with him the whole time, though. God provided him sustenance to sustain and strengthen him. God continued to guide Elijah to where He wanted him. God still spoke to Him.

Most people, especially in a deep depressed state as this, would want to hear God loud and clear, but that isn't how God spoke. He needed Elijah to stop listening to the things of this world and focus on what He was saying. God didn't speak in the roar of the wind or the crashing of rocks or even in the blaze of a fire. He spoke in the stillness that followed the chaos.

When life seems overwhelming and you aren't sure you can go on, get quiet and listen. Be still and pay attention to what the Lord may be trying to tell you. He still cares (He asked Elijah what was wrong). Listen to God-not the world.