A still small voice.

This post originally appeared on Instagram on January 26, 2021.

In 1 Kings 19, the Lord sends rushing winds, earthquakes, and fire down to the mountain where the prophet Elijah is awaiting His message. But Elijah discerns well. The Lord was not in any of those, and Elijah’s patient waiting bears fruit. After the cacophony of natural disasters passes, the Lord reveals Himself in a still small voice.

In some ways, I can’t make heads or tails of this past year. So much noise, so much drama, so much conflicting, confusing information.

But I always come back to this: the wind and earthquakes and fires are all around us, but they are not the voice of the Lord.

Let us still ourselves: in reverent reception of the sacraments, in prayerful reading of holy scriptures, in the loving devotion to the holy rosary. Listen for His still small voice.

Furthermore, let us SPEAK in a still small voice.

Pray fervently. Still small voice.

Get on the same page with your spouse. Still small voice.

Teach your children the faith. Still small voice.

Refuse to assent to lies. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, an outspoken critic of the Communist regime in the Soviet Union, said, “And the simplest and most accessible key to our self-neglected liberation lies right here: Personal non-participation in lies.” Still small voice.

Gather with friends and even your priest. If the opportunity arises, discuss the causes of religious and medical freedom with them. Still small voice.

Pray, listen, discern, and abandon yourself to God’s will. Do not give up hope.

Listen for the still small voice, so that you may speak with a still small voice. It will have a greater effect and will be clearer than any rushing wind, earthquake, or fire.