What Brought You Here?

1 Kings 19:9 (NIV): And the word of the Lord came to Him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah was paralyzed by exhaustion but propelled by a whisper from God. Elijah had been hearing from God for a long time. Listening to God compelled him to pray for rain in a drought and it rained. Listening to God challenged him to show the prophets of Baal that they were no match for God. Exhausted by conflict, he found himself in a cave.

When you’re discouraged, all you can see are circumstances. Past victories are a distant memory. In the stillness of the cave, God asks a question: Elijah what are you doing here? God cares about what brings us to where we are. Elijah puts forth his resume and pours out his discouragement. Then, God shows His power. Elijah is allowed to experience a wind, fire and earthquake, but God is nowhere to be found. Then, the same question, same answer, same discouragement. Finally, Elijah hears God in a whisper. The God-whisper is where we find the One who asks the question: “What are you doing here?” It is a change in focus from where we think we are, to where He wants us to be.

The God whisper prompts us to act. Recognize what brought you to where you are, listen to the whisper of God and act on what He says for your life.

​Chris Cooke