After the Fire Came a Gentle Whisper

Sometimes our efforts can seem futile, that we have worked so hard but have seen no results, to become disheartened, lose confidence, to feel a failure in the face of earthly power that seems to be working against us.

Elijah, a man who had dedicated his life to the work of God, had just such a moment when his work resulted in persecution.

1 Kings 19: 11 - 18 (NIV)

11 The Lord said, “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. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 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?”

14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

Elijah had come to despair as earthly religious and political powers were ranged against him. The Lord called to him to meet him and met him not in the wind or the earthquake or the fire, but met him in the peace. Elijah needed that place of peace to meet the Lord and review his situation, to be able to hear the plans of the Lord and reaffirm his own part in them. He was reassured that although his own part seemed to be on a path to ruin, there were other parts, other people, working on the same plan and by connecting with them, God's plan would be fulfilled.

It can be frustrating when things all seem to be against us, but finding that voice in the calm can help us to assess where we are and what we need to do to move things forwards. For CAP clients, they are calling for help out of a place of despair and hopelessness, but with the glimmer that there is someone who can help. The CAP team, both locally and at the support hub, can help make that space of calm to look at their situation from all angles and to see the way out, and to bring the strength and peace of God's love into these situations.

For the team, it can be a struggle to encourage clients to engage with the process. Some are open to prayer and others are not. Of course it is wonderful if the support of the CAP team helps someone know Jesus in their lives, but this is not always a result that is clear to see. As with the CAP journey itself, it starts with one step - it may be something more visible like asking for prayer for the first time, or it may be something less obvious like deciding to pay off the TV license because it feels like the right thing to do. All these little steps are steps in a journey of trust, of faith; a personal relationship with God. Meeting someone in a place of safety and peace with presence and concern may seem like a small thing but makes a huge difference.

Prayer

Pray for those who feel that they are juggling many issues at the moment, that the summer holidays would provide a space for peace and a chance for rest and reflection. Pray especially for our CAP clients who are struggling with child care during the holidays alongside debt and financial worry.

Pray for the Ely and District CAP team and the support team in Bradford, that together they can create a space of peace and concern where each CAP client can work on their financial difficulties and make the space to be able to move forwards and address other issues and concerns as well.

Pray for the Student Monday Coaching course running on Saturday at St Mary's Church, that the tools and advice from the team would help these sixth form students as they prepare for the next stage in their life journey.

Pray that we would all be enabled to take the time from our busyness and concerns to Be Still and Know the power and love of God in our lives.