When Elijah encounters God, he is feeling sorry for himself. He whines that he is the only person left who is faithful. Perhaps the earthquake and storm are God's way of shaking Elijah loose from his too strong ego. In crisis interventions, one piece of advice to lower the stress level of the situation is to quiet one's voice exuding a calm that is hoped for but not yet present. Perhaps God shook Elijah up for the purpose of providing this calming presence to sustain him.

Can you hear a quiet voice exuding a calm that is not yet?

1Kings 19:11-12

Just like Elijah, we listen for God’s voice in the powerful and dramatic moments of our lives. Surely, we think to ourselves, there must be meanings we are meant to glean from our inner storms, our inner famines. But from Elijah we learn that, just as often, we can hear God speaking into the silence, into the stillness of our own hearts and minds.

When the winds die down and the rains abate, God help us to listen for the still small voice of goodness and love that lives within our own hearts.

The presence of God is always a disturbing thing. Anything that is imperfect is exposed in the presence of holiness. So it is no surprise that any human feels battered by a storm when God is present. The “gift” of the encounter at Sinai is the law, which can reinforce the sense of separation from God by measuring our imperfection and highlighting our tendency to disobedience. But the law is also the path that shows us a way to God, a path that God has descended to be with us.

When have you felt the disturbing presence of God?

Exodus 19:16-21

On the day that God was to reveal his covenant to Moses, there was a fierce storm and God commanded Moses to bring the people out to stand at the foot of the mountain. There they listened through the storm to Moses speak while God answered him in thunder; but Moses alone was summoned to the top of the mountain.

Strengthen our ability to listen to your voice in the midst of the storm, Lord, and to the voices of all those whose hearts and minds are turned to your word.

The ark was not the most pleasant place to be. Consider the practical problems of caring for that many animals in one small area, not to mention the noise and smell. But once the storm came, the ark was the best place to be by far. No matter how much you don't like those who surround, regardless of how much trouble you experience amongst others, community is the way to survival.

What communities sustain you in the midst of life's storms?

Genesis 7: 11-15

When the rains finally began to fall in earnest on Noah’s family and all the creatures of God, they took refuge in the Ark. But we can’t always predict just what kind of storm is coming, how strong it might be, or how long it will last.

Lord, when the storms of life take us by surprise, help us to find shelter in the sure knowledge that wherever we are, there you are also.

Chaos was the first condition, it was only when God's spirit, like a mother hen, brooded over the chaos that order came. Without God things spin out of control. Science may tell the tale differently, even lifting up the creativity of chaos, but we are hard-wired to look for comfort and meaning in order.

Where are you seeking God's order in the midst of your chaos?

Genesis 1:1-2

When all the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the deep, God’s first act of creation was to make the wind sweep over the waters. Lord, we know the power of the wind and we tremble in its path.

Help us to breathe the gift of your love over the chaos of our modern lives, so that all of our lives may be made new.

Matt 26:69-75

First those out to get Jesus paint themselves into a corner with their logic and now it is a follower who goes deeper and deeper with lie leading to lie. It is an all too common human weakness to keep on piling wrong upon wrong instead of stopping the madness with a simple confession.

What truth would stop you from continuing on the wrong path?

Matt 25: 31-46

For the Jesus followers in ancient Palestine, Jesus is the fulfillment of Hebrew scripture, the One who has been sent by God to usher in a world order that is based on compassion and love, not hierarchy and fear. It is through him that they know God's purpose for their lives.

Lord, open our hearts to doing your will as your Son, Jesus showed us in his living and in his dying.

Matt 26:57-68

The legalists are hoisted on their own petard. The law won't allow bearing false witness but since it also requires two witnesses in order to convict they have to work hard to find two to agree. Out of the crowds that Jesus created through mercy, it was hard to find even two people who could be coerced into a lie against grace.

Are you cornered by your own too rigid thoughts?

Matt 25: 14-30

In this parable of a man who leaves his slaves in charge of his property when he goes away, we learn that the slaves who were given many coins of great value find ways to invest them and earn more for their master, while the slave with only one coin buries it in the ground to keep it safe. On his return, the master chastises the slave who did nothing to increase the value of his coin, and he gives it to the servant who made the most of his. The good news of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven is a treasure to be shared far and wide with all who have ears to hear. When Jesus entrusts the disciples to spread the message of the breaking in of the kingdom, the gates of the kingdom are opened wide to all who listen and believe.

May we be counted among the good stewards of your love, dear Lord, so that no one need ever live in fear.