The Silence After the Storm

I was reading in 1 Kings this week about Elijah, (who I would have to say is one of my favorites) when God spoke to him the mountains (1 Kings 19). God tells him to go to this mountain because "The LORD" will pass by. So Elijah sits in this cave, and waits. There is a hurricane, but God isn't the hurricane. There is a earthquake, but God isn't in the earthquake. Then a fire, but God isn't the fire. After all that demonstration of power, there is a whisper, from God. God didn't speak in the storm, he spoke in the silence that followed.
God shows his power in the storms, but he show us his love after the storm. The problem is we try to look for God in the big things. The bigger the better, the more God will appear. However, God is also with us after the big things, and it's after the big things that he talks to us. We try to find God in the noise, when really he's in the silence. If we want to her God's voice, we need to wait until the storm is done and just listen.
We can learn in the silence, but we can also learn during the storm. During the storm we are reminded of God's power, so if God is powerful enough to create this storm, doesn't it mean that he has enough power to hold us and keep us safe in the storm? While we are in the storm we can be assured that God is in control and will protect us.
However, it's after the storm that we have our most intimate moments with God. It's when he speaks to us, we listen and hear his voice. Elijah received encouragement and instruction when God spoke to him, and boy did he need it. God does the same to us when he speaks to us, gives us the encouragement and instruction we need. But it only happens if we listen, we can't listen to God and our MP3 player at the same time. We need to put everything aside and talk to God and only him, if we want the answers.
There is so much noise in our world, so many distractions that not only create storms, but also static when we try to talk to God afterward. It's like when you try to talk to someone out of cellphone range, you only get half the message. We only receive part of the message when we talk to God during noise. If we eliminate the distractions, we can talk to God without any interference. Isn't that cool, having a one-on-one conversation with God, the creator of this universe?
The really cool thing, is that he actually wants to talk with us. You, me, imperfect, insignificant humans. He loves us enough to want to talk with us.
Not only that, but if you want to have to a real relationship with God you need communication, just like any human relationship. Our relationship with God is a dialogue, not a monologue. It's us talking back and forth with God, not just us listing off our Christmas list to him. He wants to talk with you, without any noise. He loves you and wants to talk with you, are you willing to listen?
When you open up to let God talk, he will, and it might not be things you'll want to hear. Remember, he tells us what we need to hear, not always what we want to hear. But if God is telling us to do something, as hard it may be, it's always for our benefit. That's something worth listening to.
Listening is something we humans have always struggled with, that's why God let someone invent duct tape. But of all the people we should listen, God should be at the top of your list. If we do listen to God amazing things will happen. God will work miracles you never dreamed could be possible. It happened to Elijah, it can happen to you. What will happen if you listen?
To sum it up: God wants to talk to you, if you're ready to listen, all you have to do is be quiet, and let God work his wonders.
Are you ready to listen?
I am.