The Still Small Voice

Philip Yancey tells the story of a friend who went swimming in a large lake at dusk:

“As he was paddling at a leisurely pace about a hundred yards offshore, a freak evening fog rolled in across the water. Suddenly, he could see nothing—no horizon, no landmarks, no objects or lights on shore. Because the fog diffused all light, he could not even make out the direction of the setting sun.”

Yancey’s friend splashed about in absolute panic.

“He would start off in one direction, lose confidence, and turn 90 degrees to the right. Or left—it made no difference which way he turned. He could feel his heart racing uncontrollably. He would stop and float, trying to conserve energy and force himself to breathe slower. Then he would blindly strike out again. At last, he heard a faint voice calling from shore. He pointed his body to the voice and followed it to safety.”

What a metaphor for our often frantic lives. How many times do we wonder, What would God have me do next? What’s the right step to take? How do I handle this confusing, scary situation? But then again, how often do we pause, sit in God’s presence, and truly listen for that still, small voice?

In Psalm 46, we read:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Let us pray: Holy God, in the midst of the chaos and confusion of life, help us to be still enough to hear your voice. Even as we hand you our burdens and needs, heal us and guide us, we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.