Rhythms of Jesus – Week 3: The Discipline of Solitude

Day 19: Listening to God in the Quiet

Elijah was desperate to hear from God. He had just experienced a great victory against the prophets of Baal, yet he found himself afraid, exhausted, and hiding in a cave. In 1 Kings 19, God tells him to stand on the mountain and wait for His presence. A powerful wind came—but God was not in the wind. An earthquake shook the ground—but God was not in the earthquake. Then came a raging fire—but God was not in the fire. Finally, after all the noise, came a gentle whisper—and that’s where Elijah heard God’s voice.

So often, we expect God to speak through grand displays or dramatic signs. But He frequently speaks in the quiet. When our lives are filled with noise—constant entertainment, social media, endless to-do lists—it becomes difficult to hear Him. But when we intentionally quiet our hearts, we make space to listen.

God is always speaking. He speaks through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, and sometimes in the stillness of our hearts. But we must be willing to slow down, silence the distractions, and listen. Elijah only heard God’s voice after the storm had passed. In the same way, we often need to step away from the noise of life to truly hear Him.

Key Verse:
After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ~ 1 Kings 19:12

Putting It into Practice:

• Create a moment of silence today. Find a quiet place, sit still, and simply listen. Ask God to speak, then wait in expectancy.
• Journal what you sense God is saying. Write down thoughts, Scriptures, or impressions that come to you in the stillness.

God’s voice is not always loud, but it is always present. The more we practice listening, the more we will recognize His gentle whisper in our lives.