November 17: God in the Quiet Voice
When was the last time you sat in silence, with no phone, no music, no TV?
“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.”
Elijah was exhausted and afraid. He had just come through a huge spiritual victory and immediately crashed. Someone threatened his life, and he ran into the wilderness and asked to die. He was burned out, alone and done.
God met him on a mountain. First came a great wind, so strong it broke rocks. But God wasn’t in the wind. Then an earthquake. God wasn’t in the earthquake. Then a fire. God wasn’t in the fire. And after the fire, a still, small voice. That’s where God was.
People in recovery often expect God to show up loud. A big sign. A clear answer. A dramatic feeling. Sometimes He does. More often, He comes quietly. A thought that steadies you. A verse that sticks. A gentle nudge to call someone. And quiet things are easy to miss when your life is full of noise.
Most of us live in constant noise now. Phones buzzing. Podcasts in the car. The TV on in the background. Scrolling while we wait. For some people, that noise is doing the same job alcohol used to do. It fills the silence so you don’t have to feel what’s underneath.
Step Eleven asks for prayer and meditation. Both need some quiet. Not hours of it. Just enough to hear something besides your own racing thoughts and the world’s chatter.
Silence can be uncomfortable at first. Feelings you’ve been avoiding may come up. Thoughts about drinking may come up. That’s normal. Don’t run from it. Just notice, breathe and pray. “Lord, I’m here. I’m listening.”
Start small. Drive with the radio off. Sit outside for five minutes without your phone. Take a walk alone. Leave a gap between waking up and checking messages. In those small quiet spaces, you’ll start to notice the gentle voice more often.
One thing today
Spend ten minutes in silence today. No phone, no music, no screen. Sit, walk or drive. Say, “Speak, Lord, I’m listening,” and then just be still.
A prayer
Lord, my life is so loud. I’ve missed Your quiet voice. Help me make room for silence, and help me not run from what I find there. Speak, and let me hear You. Amen.
Making space to listen is part of Step Eleven.
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