In Quietness and Trust

Elijah the prophet was told to go to Kerith, near the River Jordan and stay there for a long time. From it's waters, Elijah drinks and is filled and he was miraculously fed each day by the ravens. You could imagine how bored and lonely he was. Alone, no one to talk to for days and nights. The solitude, the loneliness, the quietness, the long days and nights, the punctual arrival of his food everyday, and the evident working of God's supernatural hand serve to develop within Elijah a deep sense of dependence upon God.

As time goes on, the waters begin to dwindle and soon it was all gone. Then God asked him to move to another place to continue his mission.

Elijah may not realize it but his experience in Kerith was in preparation for his big day at Mount Carmel where he had to face the idol worshippers of Baal and be challenged by them. In the quietness, Elijah learnt to tune his ear to hear God. In his loneliness, Elijah learnt to speak to God and really know that He is there. Through the waters and food fed by the birds of the air, Elijah learnt to trust in God for his needs.

A time of solitude and quietness is needed. It is even much more necessary in times like this when the world moves so fast and everything happens so fast. The challenges in life, the demands, the wantings, everything, is taking a toll on us. We may not realize it but all the things that are around us can be distractions in disguise. They are there to make everything look good, to make our activity look good but in actual fact, they are merely distractions.

Having been so busy this whole year doing what I was passionate about, I did not have my time to sit down and be quiet and to just listen. I was too busy to allow myself to be quiet and still. So many voices around me, which one to listen to?

We need to find our time of solitude, where we can be still and be quiet and to learn to hear the voice of God.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..." (Isaiah 30:15)

Be quiet... Listen...

Trust...

Renew your strength...

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