Ministry Of Silence

"You know something? That still, small voice will never shout." 

Chuck Swindoll excellently nailed this down when he penned his article, Quietness in my all-time favorite devotional journal, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life.


It has been in my full awareness that the Lord operates in a realm so opposed to men's expectations and 'boxes'. His Word tells about it. His works prove it. People's testimonies relive it. 

• Who would have thought that the widow's only jar of little oil will be able to fill all the other empty jars brought to her by her sons? (2 Kings 4:1-7)
• Who would have accurately calculated that the little boy's lunch of 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread will be able to feed 5,000 men [women and children not included]? (Matthew 14:13-21)
• Too many to mention.

See, our pea-brain can't comprehend and measure His thoughts and ways!


But at times, when His ways 'may seem' predictable to us, guess what? He still catches us by surprise. His thoughts and ways may be different and far from ours, but it doesn't change the fact that the Lord so wants us to know His heart, and to reveal Himself to us. He is great. He is awesome. He is marvelous, but He is also an ever-personal, loving God. Let us take the tone a bit low and journey with me in His "Ministry of Silence".

1 Kings 19:9-12

(NIV1984, italics mine)

And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken 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." 

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. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper...

This passage has never failed to minister to me. As I happen to turn the Word to this account on different times and occasions, it is always fresh and new.


Our world out there is already busy and noisy. The Lord will not barge Himself in there. Our place is already filled with blahs and rants. He won't communicate using the same thing. The LORD is still, meek and silent in His voice and His ways. He wants us to do just the same. Give in. Lay down our defenses to the One who knows us deep within.


The world demands us to speak and communicate with words. But in the Lord's eyes, it is in the silence He ministers the strongest. 


It is in the silence He gives us dreams, pours out strength, showers peace to prepare us for the journeys ahead.


Can't find God in the wind, earthquake and fire? Take a moment to look around and look for a silent spot. I bet He's there.

"You know something? That still, small voice will never shout."

You are right, Chuck. And it has been consistent all this time. 

* This post is also inspired by this song. Click here.