Even in our personal storms, God is present with us, and through humility and being open to being shaken, we can experience profound growth and transformation.
Good morning, family! Today, we’re going to be looking into a passage in the First Book of Kings.
In this passage, we see the prophet Elijah experiencing God's presence in a powerful and transformative way. He's not in a comfortable place, but in the midst of a storm - both literally and metaphorically.
[Read passage]
As C.S. Lewis once said, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less."
Let's bow our heads in prayer.
Dear Lord, as we delve into your word today, we pray for open hearts and minds. Help us to understand your presence in our storms, the power of humility, and the blessing of being shaken. Guide us, Lord, as we seek to apply these lessons to our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
So, let's dive in, shall we?
In the midst of life's tempests: We often find ourselves questioning where God is. We may feel abandoned, alone, and adrift in the stormy seas of our circumstances. Yet, the story of Elijah in 1st Kings assures us that God is not absent in our storms, but rather, He is profoundly present.
Elijah, a prophet of God: He found himself in a literal storm on a mountain, but also in a metaphorical storm of fear and despair. He had been threatened by Jezebel, the wicked queen, and was running for his life. It was in this moment of fear and uncertainty that God chose to reveal Himself to Elijah. God was not in the powerful wind that tore the mountains apart, nor in the earthquake or the fire that followed. Instead, He was in the gentle whisper that came after. This is a powerful reminder that God's presence is not always in the dramatic or the spectacular, but often in the quiet and the stillness that follows the storm.
Not just about comfort, but also about transformation: Elijah was not the same after his encounter with God on the mountain. He was strengthened, encouraged, and given a new mission. Similarly, when we experience God's presence in our storms, we are not meant to remain the same. We are meant to be transformed, to grow, to become more like Christ.
Not passive: He is not merely a silent observer, watching us struggle. Instead, He is actively involved, guiding us, strengthening us, and using the storm to shape us. Just as a potter uses pressure to shape clay into a beautiful vessel, so God uses the pressures of our storms to shape us into the people He wants us to be.
A testament to His faithfulness: He does not abandon us when the going gets tough. Instead, He sticks with us, walking with us through the storm, just as He did with Elijah. This is a comforting thought, especially when we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances.
A call to trust Him: When we're in the midst of a storm, it's easy to focus on the wind and the waves, and forget about the One who controls them. Yet, just as Jesus calmed the storm for His disciples in the New Testament, so He can calm our storms today. But we need to trust Him, to believe that He is with us and that He has the power to bring us through.
Humility is a virtue that is not only encouraged but is exemplified by our Lord Jesus Christ himself ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
Sermon Central
