7 Steps to hearing God's voice in the midst of grief

One of the many things that those going through grief want is clear direction. They want to know it's okay to go on with their lives. And they want to know how and where to go. They pray for this direction on a regular basis and wait for God to speak to them. This leads me to a plethora of thoughts that I will try to assimilate in the next few paragraphs. 

I want to direct you to a passage of scripture that I recently saw in a different light. In 1 Kings, Chapter 19, we read that Elijah has found himself in a cave on the mountain of God. He had fled to the wilderness and told God he couldn't take it anymore. He asked God to take his life. In other words, to put him out of his misery. Instead God fed him and instructed him to go to Horeb, the mountain of God. 

Point 1: We are to prepare ourselves and go to the "Mountain of God" if we want to hear His voice. Where is your mountain? Is it your prayer closet? Is it your church? Your small group? Wherever you feel closest to God is your mountain. 

Once Elijah went to the mountain he found a cave and dwelled there. 

Point 2: Once you go to your mountain you must be willing to stay and listen for God to speak to you. 

While there God asked Elijah what he was doing (as if He didn't already know). Elijah cries out to God and tells Him that he is fearful for his life. The circumstances are so great that he knows it will just kill him to continue. So, what does God do? He directs him to step outside of his cave and step into the presence of the Lord. 

Point 3: To hear God speak you might have to step outside of your comfort zone. 

Once Elijah stepped outside God asked him AGAIN what he was doing and AGAIN Elijah told him exactly what was going on.  Verbatim. Was this the first biblical record of Deja Vu? Of course not. 

Point 4: Sometimes we may need to make it known more than once what it is we are seeking from God. 

After this there was a strong wind that tore the mountain apart. But the Lord was not speaking in the wind. Then came an earthquake. Still no voice from God. After the earthquake there was a fire. But God did not speak to him through the fire either. After all of that, God spoke in a gentle whisper. 

Point 5: Sometimes outside forces want to knock us off our feet. They make it feel as if the ground is giving away beneath us and then we have to go through the fire. But if we are patient God has a gentle answer for us. But we must make sure that we don't let the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, keep us from hearing what God has to say. 

After Elijah heard God's voice he followed the heavenly instructions and found Elisha in the field. Elisha left to follow Elijah and become his servant. 

Point 6: God may speak to you in a still small voice. And sometimes that voice may be through someone else rather than directly to you. And God will also give you someone to help you. Don't shut them out. 

Every other time I have read this scripture I have marveled at the way God chose to spoke. The focus had always been on how God didn't speak through the wind, the earthquake, and the fire but in a still small voice. This time I wondered if God was speaking during each of those events but Elijah just couldn't hear Him because his focus was on the chaos and not on the calm. 

Point 7: Focus on God and what He wants to tell you regardless of the madness around you. 

I hope this little mini-sermon spoke to you. I kind of miss leading the youth and teaching them. It felt good to hear that gentle whisper as God taught me this. I pray you will be able to hear what He wants to whisper to you.