I wrote this word today at the prompting of the Holy Spirit for someone. May that someone be blessed today, the Lord your God is still with you..

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.(1Ki 19:11-12)

When we are in the midst of the storms in our lives, the mighty winds that buffet us, the earthquake that shakes the very ground we stand upon and the fires that threaten to consume our very lives and all that we have worked for, we very often have to endure that without hearing a single word from God. In fact, we can sometimes think that we have been either forgotten by God or abandoned by Him. We remember well the most anguished cry the world has ever head “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me.” No encouraging word, no glimpse of His presence, nothing at all. We are stripped bare of everything and are left standing with nothing more than our trust in God. Or will we abandon God because we believe that He has abandoned us thus proving the accuser correct?

For those who continue to stand when everything and everyone around them is falling, when they least suspect it, suddenly the still small voice of God speaks. Light breaks in upon the gross darkness. They realize that God had never left them. Even in the midst of a storm that was tearing down mountains, they stood. Even in the midst of a mighty earthquake that shook loose everything that could be shaken, they stood. Even in the very midst of a fire so fierce that it consumed everyone around them, they discovered there was another in the fire with them and they stood. And when it was all over, and they had endured and they had overcome for no other reason than their decision to put their trust in God, stand upon their faith in Jesus, then comes the still small voice of God Himself. The Lord our God is a rewarder of those diligently seek Him. Do not underestimate that world “diligently.” This narrow path is not for the faint of hear, it is for the warriors of Christ. The battle rages but in Him we stand.

If today you find you find yourself in the storm. If the ground beneath you is shaking violently and all around you things are falling. If there is a fire raging and consuming everything in its path, know this dear saint, you are walking through the narrowest parts of the path. They will cease, you will hear the still small voice of God, only stand and do not fall, stand upon your faith in God. Trust God and lean not upon your own understanding, that still voice will speak to those who endure. The very essence of a man or a woman’s faith is displayed when everything seems to be lost. Think of our brother Job ” even if He slays me, yet will I trust Him.” When he spoke those words, Satan was proven to be wrong. We do not love our Lord because of the circumstances of our lives, or because of the abundance of our possession, we love Him because He is worthy to be loved. He is high and lifted up even if we find ourselves in the gutter.

After the valley of the shadow of death comes the green pastures. He will lead you there saint. He will make you lie down in those pastures and rest. He will sit you down beside the still waters and speak to you in a still small voice. He will prepare a table before you and feed your hungry soul. He will anoint your head with oil, baptize you afresh in His Holy Spirit and your cup will overflow. For those who stand upon the Word of God, goodness and mercy shall follow them all the days of their lives, even if it seems that sometimes they are following you at a distance, they are following you, He is with you even now.