That when you pray, it feels like nothing is happening?
Do you just feel like you're talking to yourself?
Well you're not alone. I think we've all felt like that at some point if we're being honest. But don't stop reading now, because I've got good news! It's found in 1 King's 19, verses 11-13. Check it out:
The Lord said to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah was a guy who was used to seeing God answer his prayers in spectacular, crazy ways. The type of answers that literally turned heads. God provided food for Elijah through ravens. Elijah saw God raise a widow's son from the dead. Elijah saw God cast down fire from Heaven on Mount Carmel. Proper insane stuff!
BUT I believe that the most significant event in Elijah's life occurred in the passage we just read above - when God actually revealed Himself to Elijah in his time of trouble and need. God - the all powerful, all knowing, Creator of the Universe. You'd think that it would be pretty impressive to see God revealing Himself, right?! But did He do it through a great song and dance? Was there a big fireworks display? No. God didn't reveal Himself through the wind, or through the earthquake, or through the fire. He chose to reveal Himself through a gentle whisper. In the silence.
I think it's important to remember that God is at work even in the silence. Even when we don't get a clear answer to our prayer. Even when we think we're just talking to ourselves. Even when prayer seems like a one-way conversation. God is listening, and He is working.At Youth Fellowship tonight, we spent some time praying about our hopes, expectations and fears for the year ahead. Giving them over to God in prayer, and committing this year to Him. There was no wind, there was no earthquake, there was no fire. But God was present and He is at work in our prayers.
'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
- Zechariah 4 v 6
As we thought about prayer, and we prayed for one another this evening, I'd ask you to also be praying for our YF. We'd really appreciate it! Come along to YF next Sunday at 7.15pm to look at another awesome episode from Elijah's life in 1 Kings 18 v 16 - 46. You're very welcome!
