As Elijah hid away in the cave on Mount Horeb, the voice of the Lord came to him and said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by” (1 Kings 19:9-18). What do you imagine when you hear those words — The Lord is about to pass by?

Maybe an image of unfolding mountain scenery? A stunning sunrise or sunset painting the horizon? The call of a single loon at twilight on a quiet lake? The first time you laid eyes on your newborn child? Something else?

In scripture, God often passes by in images of power that speaks to God’s control over the forces of nature. God speaks to Job from a whirlwind. God calls Moses from a burning bush. The Israelites feel the earth shake as Moses receives the Torah.

Wind. Fire. Quaking Earth. These were all common manifestations of God’s presence. Except for Elijah, God was not in any of these. For Elijah, it was only after the powerful forces passed by that a sound of sheer silence emerged, and only then, did the Lord pass by Elijah. Appearing, as God often does, in surprising, unexpected and ordinary moments.

The death and resurrection of Jesus reminds us that there is no place, no moment, no experience where God is NOT present. It’s an important reminder when we find ourselves, like Elijah, afraid, alone, and running from something, and longing to experience God’s presence.

God was with Elijah as he fled from Jezebel’s rage to Mount Horeb, just as God was with Elijah in the silence.

God was with the disciples in the boat in the terror of the storm (Matthew 14:22-33).

God was with Peter as he stepped onto the water . . . and as he sank beneath it.

God is with us in whatever storm we find ourselves, whether it be a storm of wind, or fire, quaking earth, or a storm of silence.

Lord, open our eyes to see, and our ears to hear!