Surrounding the deep blue water was a range of beautiful mountains. The elderly gentleman paddled throughout most of the morning as he traveled out into the lake. Then, a strange thing happened. A dense fog began rolling in over the mountains on to the lake. Before long this man was completely surrounded by this fog. He panicked and began paddling back to shore, but he didn’t have any sense of direction. He paddled one way for a while and then stopped. Then, he paddled another way and stopped. He had no sense of direction. He was lost.
By now, this man was scared and confused. All energy was zapped. All strength was gone. Then, he heard someone calling from the shore. He couldn’t see them, but he could hear their faint voice. He paddled and paddled towards the voice. Eventually, he made it to shore safely.
How many times do you feel dazed and confused, like you are paddling in circles? You can’t see your boundaries. You can’t figure out which way to paddle. Your strength is gone. Your hope is dwindling.
Elijah knew hopelessness. Jezebel’s death sentence had him fleeing for his life. Alone and afraid, Elijah sought God and God answered:
“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” (1 Kings 19:11b-12).
Let me encourage you to listen. Listen carefully. There’s a still, small whisper calling your name. Each time you cry out in desperation, each time you cry out for a boundary, some place to grab hold of, God hears you. Not only does God hear, he speaks.
Listen carefully for your Father’s faint voice as he gives you direction in the fog of fear and anxiety. When you start paddling towards his voice, the darkness will begin to fade.
Prayer: Father, help me out of this dense fog of fear. Speak clearly so that I may know which way to paddle in life. Give me clear direction. Guide me by the power of your Holy Spirit.
