I run to the wonders.
Surely you’re in the thunder.
I can't hear You speaking. Is this Your voice that I'm hearing:
"Can you find Me in the whisper"?
"Revolutionary Thought" from the album Love Reality by Charmaine

As a child, I traveled all over the world with my parent’s ministry, which meant I was mostly home-schooled from a tour bus. I never really watched a lot of TV but grew up listening to my dad’s stories. When my dad tucked me in bed, at whatever host home we were staying, he would open up a world of fantasies, ancient cities and epic stories. Sometimes he became very animated and would play-act the stories with sword fights, poking the air with one arm and holding the book in the other. He had a way of captivating a little girl’s imagination.

From The Narnian Chronicles, to Peter Pan, to the incredible stories of the Old Testament, he told of mighty kings, queens and common people doing amazing things. My heart would beat fast as he read out that moment when Esther, before appealing to the king for her people's lives at a time when coming before the king unannounced meant certain death, said, "If I perish, I perish!"

These stories filled my mind and heart, giving me an idealistic view of the world. I believed in them. For a time, in my mind, all those stories were alive!

However, growing up through my teens and into early adulthood, it seemed that the stories were a little too fantastic and couldn’t apply to us currently. But I have found that these stories are an echo of a much grander story and are infinitely important now. Growing up can sometimes feel like true 'growing pain' with responsibilities, stress over deadlines and bills, relationships, distractions and the annex of not knowing the future, or whether your plans will stand the test of time. So much of it, at least for me, is uncertain.


There's a story of a famous prophet named Elijah. He was, as my dad described, the only prophet with “superhero-type powers.” A lot of Elijah’s stories were quite amazing. One in particular that had that extra 'wow' factor for me, as a child, is found in1 Kings 18:16-46. It was the highlight of Elijah's "career.” He had captured the attention of two great nations at Mount Carmel and set up a test; Elijah had the people set up two bulls for a sacrifice and not set fire to the alter. The prophets of Baal were to call on their god, and Elijah was to call on his god. Whichever god answered by fire would be the only true God.

In a quite disturbing manner, the prophets of Baal put on a big show, desperately asking for a sign from their god, but to no avail. Then Elijah came, repaired the alter of the Lord, that had been desecrated, placed the bull upon it, drenched the alter with water three times, and then prayed in front of the prophets of Baal, the government and all who were gathered. God answered. He sent fire down from the sky completely consuming everything around the alter, including the bull, the stones, the wood, even the water around the alter! What an incredible moment! Elijah's god truly was God. In that moment the hearts of an entire nation were turned back to the Truth! Every priest of Baal perished that day...Intense!

To cut a long story short (which I encourage you to read it yourself), Queen Jezebel found out not only that her god wasn’t as powerful as Elijah's, but also that all her priests were dead! She made a promise to have Elijah killed by the following day.

The “fire from God” part of the story was exciting for me as a child, but as a young adult, what happened next was even more incredible.

Elijah, after hearing what Jezebel had declared, ran for his life! Where was his faith? He was so distraught that he pleaded in 1 Kings 19:4, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life!” He went to the only place where God had historically shown himself to His people, in hope of finding an epic experience of his own. He went to find an answer to this seemingly hopeless situation. He traveled a little over 40 days and nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into the cave and spent the night. Maybe he was waiting for a sign, maybe he wanted God to give him a “pat on the back” so to speak. Maybe he believed, for a moment, that he was alone, the last faithful standing. The first thing God said to Elijah was, "What are you doing here, Elijah?” Of all the things to say! As if God didn't already know, Elijah responded to God, “I am the only one [faithful servant] left and now they’re going to kill me too!” (1 Kings 19:10)

I often wonder how Elijah went from epic win (incredible “fire burning” faith), to epic fail (depressed and afraid). He of all people should have known there was a bigger picture. But like you and me, he was human, and like you and me, susceptible to his fears. He thought perhaps, God had forgotten how faithful he’d been, forgotten too that he'd been working hard only to be paid with a death warrant.

God told him to go to the mouth of the cave where He would show Himself to Elijah. Aha! Finally there was the moment. There was the incredible assurance that Elijah was looking for! Maybe a miracle would happen? Or maybe a thunderous voice would call down from the heavens.

A great storm came with incredible winds, and an earthquake shook the ground, but God was not there. Then came a massive fire, but God wasn't in that either. Then came a gentle whisper, “Elijah.” When he heard it, he pulled his cloak over his head and walked out of the mouth of the cave.

I am much like Elijah, incredibly strong one day, and then terribly afraid the next. I wage war with my own doubts, and in the midst of the battle, I forget an eternal truth: this story was not written by me. If fact, it is being crafted by the One who lives in the epic, and more importantly, in a whisper. God is. He 'lives' in the bigger picture. Better yet, He is the bigger picture. What happens from one day to the next is temporary. God is the eternal, great, adventurous, triumphant, and incredible story, and He is with me, as close and as intimate as a friend telling a secret. There is no Jezebel to fear. There is nothing to be anxious about. We can get on with it! We can walk on with renewed strength.

Elijah went back to work, assured that despite him running for his life, afraid and distraught. A gentle whisper was the assurance that God was still writing the story.

Yes, it's a good story. I am glad I'm in it, and somehow again I become that wide-eyed little girl, amazed at how awesome this story truly is.