What Does “Still, Small Voice” Mean to You?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to 1 Kings 12-13; 17-22 and a lesson titled “If the Lord Be God, Follow Him.” The following information introduced the lesson. 

The house of Israel was in disarray. The kingdom had divided, with ten tribes forming the Northern Kingdom of Israel and two tribes forming the Southern Kingdom of Judah. But worse than their separations from each other was both kingdoms’ separation from their covenants. Wicked kings led the people away from the Lord, and many people wavered in their faith.

In this setting, the Lord called Elijah to be a prophet. His life shows that a person can have great faith in the Lord even in bad circumstances. Sometimes the Lord responds to such faith with impressive, public miracles, like fire falling from heaven. But He also works quiet, private miracles, like feeding a faithful widow and her son. And most often the Lord’s miracles are so individual that they are known only to one person – for example, when the Lord reveals Himself to you through “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).

The scripture blog teaches several principles, including (1) Christlike leaders serve the people they lead (1 Kings 12:1-20); (2) An invitation to sacrifice is an opportunity to exercise my faith in Jesus Christ (1 Kings 17:8-16; 19:19-21); (3) “If the Lord be God, follow him” (1 Kings 18);

(4) The Lord often speaks in quiet, simple ways (1 Kings 19:1-18). This essay will discuss principle #4 about how the Lord often speaks.

Elijah called down fire from heaven in a powerful miracle on Mount Carmel, but the miracle did not make Elijah’s mission any easier. In fact, his life was in danger, and he had to hide in a cave in the wilderness. There, struggling with loneliness and discouragement, he had an experience with the Lord that was very different from the experience on Mount Carmel. I will share the scripture block, but I ask you to consider the following question as you read it: What does Elijah’s experience in 1 Kings 19:1-18 teach you about how the Lord communicates with you in your times of need?

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 ¶ But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

9 ¶ And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

11 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:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Did you ponder the times when you felt the Lord speaking to you? How do you describe the way He communicates with you? Why are the words “still” and “small” good ways to describe the voice of the Spirit? What do you need to do to receive the Lord’s guidance more often?

Modern revelation tells us how God communicates with His children. Doctrine and Covenants 8:2 tells us that God speaks to us in our mind (thoughts) and heart (feelings) by the power of the Holy Ghost. Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9 teach us how to prepare to receive revelation.

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn [warm feeling] within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; …

We learn from these verses that the Lord expects us to use multiple senses to enhance our learning. He also expects/requires us to do some of the work – study it out in our minds. We should use the knowledge that we know to be true to gain more knowledge and understanding. Once we have an idea of what we should do, then we pray and ask God if that is a correct action.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the “still small voice” refers to the gentle, quiet guidance that comes from God through the Holy Ghost. Those individuals who want to hear the word of the Lord must make times of quiet in their lives – times when there is no social media blasting in our ears, times that shut out the world. We must remember that the Holy Ghost speaks in a still small voice, and we must be listening to hear His voice.