Even the most committed and strong of God’s servants may at times experience discouragement, depression, and a desire to withdraw from their calling. I’m encouraged to know that the mighty Bible hero Elijah also experienced this and succumbed to his human weakness subject to fear and vulnerability.

I’m even more encouraged to see just how remarkable the grace of God is to renew this once fearless prophet and restore him to his ministry. Elijah, like me, was simply broken. He was exhausted from his ministerial work believing that it was accomplishing nothing. Elijah’s amazing work on Mount Carmel did not result in a national revival and instead of getting back in the fight and enduring to the end, Elijah believed his own unworthiness caused his ministry to fail.

Elijah secluded himself even more into the wilderness, running away to hide to pray that he might die. Elijah is known as a mighty man of valor and a prayer warrior. I look at Elijah as the invincible prophet who fearlessly stands up to kings. He was the one God used to make the rain cease for 3.5 years and make it start again, yet now he’s praying that he might die and gives up on his calling. What a blessing it is when God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want Him to. Elijah was one of the only men in Scriptures to have never died. What a great example of the blessings of unanswered prayers.

“There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” -I Kings 17:9

Throughout this most recent season of brokenness, the Lord has been asking me this very question too. The question itself is a rebuke to correct our perspective and ought to convict us. This question was Elijah’s opportunity to unburden his heart before God in pure, real, rawness; but it is also an invitation to us for response as we consider whether we are in our right place or in the way of our duty.

Another interesting thing worth noting that once again exemplifies the mighty grace of God is that Elijah did not go to the cave to retreat and meet with his God. He didn’t go to his “Bethel” to spend time with his scroll or even to worship in song or dance. Elijah didn’t go to meet with God…yet just like our God, He met Elijah exactly where he was and proved Himself strong. God knew what this depressed prophet needed: a personal encounter with Him.

“…And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke 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. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.”

The Lord met Elijah. He cared about him and knew what he needed. He needed that personal encounter with his God. He needed that experience, thus the passage said that God was found not in dramatic manifestations but in “the sound of a low whisper.” I believe this is the most profound and beautiful verse in this passage, not just because of God’s compassion and heart which is revealed in His tenderness towards Elijah, but because of the profoundness of the whisper. The wind, the earthquake, nor the fire made him cover his face, but the still, quiet whisper of the Lord did.

Whenever I think of the voice of the Lord, I typically envision a deep, powerful fatherly voice. I think of the voice heard from all corners of the earth—the voice that will make every knee bow and confess His name. I think of the voice that created the entire world into existence. I think of the voice that makes even demons shudder at the name. Yet, our Lord gently and powerfully whispered to His beloved child.

When do we whisper? When are we listening to a whisper? When do we hear the whisper? WHEN WE ARE CLOSE!

When we are physically close to someone, we are able to hear them whispering to us. We choose to whisper when someone is near to us so that they alone can hear. That is exactly the same way with God. God chooses to use His still, quiet, and tender whisper to us only when we are close to Him, when we are close enough to hear, to listen, and to obey. Only when we are in that close and intimate relationship with God will we be able to hear that whisper calling us to Him.

If this passage wasn’t amazing already, it just gets greater! I love what God does next…

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?”...And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus.”

This is one of my favorite passages in Scripture that I have read again and again for a number of years. Reading it this time, while experiencing such similar brokenness, I was spoken to by what God chooses to tell Elijah next. After Elijah prays to die, unburdens his soul, cries out for his people and lays it all out in raw realness, the Lord gives him more work to do. The Lord gives him instruction and tells him, “go!”

Initially, I thought this was actually rather cruel of God. Doesn’t He understand that Elijah is overwhelmed with grief? Doesn’t He know he wants a break from feeling like a disappointment, like a failure? Doesn’t He realize that the pressure, the ministry, the calling is what made him run away in the first place? Doesn’t God care?!

It reminds me of the time when Jesus is woken up by the cries of the disciples’ fear as the waves were crashing onto the boat in ­­­Mark 4. The disciples accused Jesus--the One who will soon die for them--of not caring about them. “Don’t you care if we drown?”. Jesus’ reply to their panic is most enlightening, for it reaches the core of their problem---and our own as well. He rebuked them, asking, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

This question illuminated the hidden places in the hearts of His listeners, inviting them to examine their hearts. The very thing that should have put them at ease, Jesus’ ability to save them, had instead caused commotion in their souls. Jesus had demonstrated His mighty power, but the disciples’ faith in His goodness was yet small. So was their willingness to wholeheartedly throw in their lot with this One who had shown Himself worthy of their trust. Did God care? Of course! Jesus yearned for the disciples to securely rest in Him, but they were not yet willing to risk their lives for His sake until they were more confident of His love for them. Jesus wanted them to enter into His rest just as He wanted for Elijah. 

The Lord did not give Elijah more to do because He didn’t care about him or wanted to crush him even more. God knew exactly what Elijah needed. And exactly what we need. Elijah needed to stop looking at himself, needed to stop looking at his own circumstances, his own fears and anxiety, and his own self pity. He needed to lift up his eyes off of himself and press forward with what God wanted him to do. Like Elijah, we often refuse to risk a holy abandon of love to Christ, giving our hands, but not our hearts to God and to others. 

And that’s what God has been whispering to me. My Jesus has been prompting me with “What are you doing here, Hannah?”.  There have been several moments in my life where I felt the Lord was holding my heart, but not fully beginning to heal it. That’s because I was not in the place He wanted me to be. I was not close enough to hear Him. I was hiding in fear, overcome with disappointment, and overwhelmed with my calling. But Jesus, with gentleness and love, whispered and instructed me to “Go”. 

I encourage you, whether you are hiding in the cave or in the middle of the tumultuous storm, be close enough and silent enough to hear that still, small whisper. Invite Jesus now to take possession of that part of your heart that is hindering you from really hearing that quiet whisper. Lean into His rest and go where He leads. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hannah is a twenty-something Tucson native saved by the overwhelming grace of Christ. She is currently a university instructor while also pursuing her graduate degree in higher education leadership. Hannah loves country music, camping and hiking, binge watching Gilmore Girls and traveling on spontaneous road trips. Her favorite days consist of a great cup of coffee, a good book, and enjoying monsoon thunderstorms. She longs to see young women thrive in their relationship with Jesus, knowing He always has immeasurably more in store for us.