Your Brightest LifeНамуна

You can’t hear whispers at a concert. Make some quiet.

At six a.m., Lanie’s alarm blares to life with a rousing chorus of Early Riser. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she pops in her earbuds to listen to her favorite “Feeling Happy” playlist while she gets ready. At breakfast, the blender whirs while she throws some lunch items into a paper sack. On the school bus, unruly students shout and tease each other, making it hard to concentrate on the English assignment she’s trying to finish before first period.

At school, teachers lecture, announcements blare, bells ring. On the car ride home, an ambulance’s siren interrupts her and her dad’s conversation. After two hours of homework, mixed with texting friends, she finally throws on her pajamas and rolls into bed. As she clicks off the light, Lanie slips into sleep, unaware that the sound of . . . nothing . . . is the first silence she’s heard all day.

Maybe you can relate. It’s a loud life, isn’t it?

There’s a story in the Bible about a time when the prophet Elijah needed to hear God’s voice. A crazy queen had just vowed to kill him, so he was questioning his life choices while running far, far away. God wanted to remind him of some things Elijah couldn’t hear in the chaos, so He told him to go up to a secluded mountain and wait in a cave. First Kings 19:11–13 tells us what happened next.

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?”

God’s Presence came in a whisper.

I don’t know about you, but most days I’d need God to show up in the earthquake, fire, or wind in order for me to hear Him arrive. My life is loud—full of sounds, yes, but also distractions and busyness. Unless I actively make some quiet, I risk never hearing God’s whispers. And that would be a shame, because I desperately want to hear what He has to say.

If you need to hear God tell you that He loves you, if you need His advice or perspective, it won’t happen at a 24/7 concert of life. You’ll probably have to turn off the music, set aside the phone, and pause the to-do list. Turn down the volume now and then. What you hear in the quiet will be worth it.

Take five minutes each day this week to just “be” with God. (Set a reminder if you think you’ll forget.) Find a quiet spot free from distractions, take a few deep breaths, and invite God to join you. You may hear something specific from Him, you may not—there’s no agenda. You’re just creating quiet to talk to God and allow Him the opportunity to speak if He has something to say.