1 Kings 19:11-12 (NLT)
“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.
Have you ever been traveling, and you get to a point where you are not sure which way to go? Maybe you had to stop to ask for directions, but you couldn’t hear or understand what the person was trying to tell you? How about being out hiking or some place new and you want to arrive where you need to be before it gets dark?
As we go through life, we will have finished or will embark on many different journeys. Some are very short, while others can be a long and complicated expedition. We could have a map to where we are going, may have to stop to ask for directions, or even just stumble around in the dark until we find which way we are supposed to be heading.
The truth is that each time we want to move forward it will be different from the time before. This includes any routine that we may think we have in place to keep us on track. You lie in bed a few seconds longer, the time in the bathroom takes longer than usual, or that traffic in front of you is going slower than most other days.
It is not just each day of a journey that is different, but each of us are on our own path going in a different direction. Most of us are part of a group that moves in a similar direction. It may be a family that surrounds us, those we speak to every day we go to work, or we can be part of a group that gets together to socialize.
Now we have to fit our path into the trajectory of all the other paths that are merging with us. We will spend time trying to figure out which of these paths are helpful to our travels and the ones that are trying to detour us off the road. What’s even better is that we may be the one helping others on their journey.
We all go through questions and the process of finding our direction or purpose in life, but we do not always ponder how it may affect or be affected by others. This is where figuring out how we fit can be very important to our next step or trip out the door. It is not always easy because most of us have trouble seeing past ourselves.
I know that I still struggle with where my place is in the world. I feel that I am always being bombarded with doubts or covered with shadows that obscure my way. This only happens when I take my eyes off the Lord and the plans he has for my life. He gives me that guidance and the little extra I need when I tune out the world and listen as Elijah did in the opening scripture.
He is our shelter in the windstorm, our solid ground during the earthquake, and the water relief from the fires in our lives. I know it is difficult, but we should not forget Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Let’s start with that we all are His masterpiece. We are good enough to be displayed in God’s art gallery amongst all His other heavenly treasures. But we are not just to be seen by God himself or at a private showing. We are His monument that He has proudly erected in the center of the communities where we are.
As with any public display, we are there for a purpose. Ephesians 4:1 puts it a slightly different way, “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” What does God have written on the base of your statue or the sign hanging above your desk? What are you to signify to everyone who sees you?
We cannot let the world obscure us or worse yet is that we obscure ourselves. There are forces in this world that will try to overshadow everything that is good. This includes filling the world with chaos around you so that we cannot see or hear what God wants us to. The truth is that He is never far away.
The Lord is always there even though it may be difficult to feel him. We need to ask the Lord where he wants us and what he wants us to do. It should be a conversation as if talking to a friend, not making promises we don’t keep or demands for things we don’t need. Take the time to figure out what gifts God has given to us and actually listen to what He is saying.
1 Peter 4:10 breaks it down another way, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” Using the gifts we are given to serve one another. Not to our advantage, but for others. The truth is that it is very difficult to listen when we stay centered on ourselves.
So, join me as I join you and others in following those directions that the Lord is giving us. Our mission and purpose may be different, but our journey is leading to the same destination. To do so, we must keep our eyes on God and not everything in the world around us. And if we start getting lost, then close your eyes and listen for his whisper.
SHOWING YOU THE WAY
I can hear a voice that’s deep inside me that is trying to get out,
There is so much noise around obscuring it with fear and doubt.
With each word I cannot hear there are plans that I cannot make,
My journey loses all forward motion or can feel like it is fake.
Soon I stop looking toward the future as my vision begins to dim,
With the fading possibilities and any prospects turning grim.
All the dark clouds overhead are casting shadows over me,
Lord, darkness is descending and the road ahead I cannot see.
My child, that voice that you are hearing is me calling out to you,
Trying to give the guidance asked for and keep your direction true.
The evil forces all around you don’t want you to see the path ahead,
They want to replace the plan I have for you with a life of dread.
Let go of all the worry and indecision to feel my loving spirit,
Soon peace will quiet the world around you so my whisper you can hear it.
The road ahead may have many turns but I am never far away,
My light is always shining through the darkness Showing You The Way.
Simple Faith Christian
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Simple Faith Christian 