I was playing a game on my phone as my husband was driving us home from a trip up to Massachusetts. It was around one o’clock in the morning, and we were thirty minutes from home when I heard the crash. I was startled and looked up to see that we no longer had visibility. Something was covering the windshield, and as our car continued to be hit by something, I remember thinking that we were being shot at. I screamed and grabbed my husband’s arm. Not very helpful to a man trying to navigate his car off the highway with the hood smashed open against the windshield. After telling me to let go, he got the car off the road. Smoke started coming out of the engine, and that was my
cue to leave! Someone we knew had recently suffered severe burns from a car crash, and this was fresh on my mind. I kept yelling at my husband to get away from the car. As I headed for the grass away from the side of the highway, I heard someone yelling that they saw the deer run off. I sat in that grass and cried. I don’t even remember if I had my shoes on. My husband was taking care of the car, probably determining if we could drive it home or not, and I felt alone and terrified. I cried out to God. Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew over me and I immediately felt calmed. I sensed His presence, and I knew that He was with me.
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah is depressed and in despair because he believes he is the only one left who is following the Lord. Those in charge are out to kill him, too. Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then, a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was
not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:11-12.)
It is in the gentle breezes that I hear God’s voice most frequently. I don’t think you can hear it if you are surrounded by noise. Even Jesus went off to a solitary place first thing in the morning to pray (Mark 1:35). I personally do my best listening alone in nature. The sounds of His creation wash away the sounds of the world. But it’s not just being alone and away from noise that allows us to hear God’s whisper. It’s when we are quiet and listening. That is the hardest part for me. My mind is racing with one to-do list after another or one worry or another.
I usually have to ask Him to quiet my mind before I can even begin to listen. I am guilty of forgetting to be quiet before the Lord on a regular basis. Because of that, I find myself worrying more and praying less. I also get bitter when I haven’t spent time in His presence. My mind spirals into negativity and anger instead of love for those around me. I cannot be the person He is calling me to be without time listening to His whisper. This time in His presence is when my heart aligns with His. It’s the time when my worries fade away as I recognize His power to handle the things I’ve been unsuccessfully trying to handle on my own. It’s the time where my fears subside and joy is renewed. God was with us as we hit that deer at 65mph that dark night. But it was in the grass at the side of the road that I heard His whisper, “I’m here, Allison, you’re not alone.”
