The Whisper

Loud noises get our attention very quickly. I hate loud noises! Sometimes if I am not expecting it, and depending on my anxiety level at that moment, those loud noises cause me to have a panic attack. They can be one of the most horrible things you could go through, depending on the intensity. Mine have ranged from mild causing just fear and tears, to severe, causing my muscles to stiffen to the point of my inability to move because of the gripping terror that comes over me. Once these intense ones subside, I am exhausted and have to sleep for a while, and I don’t have energy to function for the rest of the day. My amazing husband has held me through several of the really bad ones, whispering soothing words to me the entire time, helping me regain control over the chaos.

Even if you don’t suffer from panic attacks, loud noises can scare you or get on your nerves, or both. They definitely get your attention. But I have learned through experience that a quiet whisper is just as effective, if not more so, for getting someone’s attention. I have seen large groups of loud children be hushed as a teacher starts to whisper instructions. Chaos turns into peace when someone uses a quiet, peaceful, loving voice to overwhelm the noise. Even with my own grandchildren, if they seem out of control, all I have to do is whisper in a loving tone and they calm right down and resume their activity more quietly.

As I try to navigate through panic attacks. It is the voice of my Heavenly FATHER that helps me through the chaos going through my head. In those devastating times, I can see myself being held by HIM as well. In the chaos, I hear a much louder voice. It is GOD whispering over me HIS precious words of comfort, love, and peace. Zephaniah 3:17 says that “HE will quiet you with HIS love, HE will rejoice over you with singing.”

Wow. The GOD of Heaven and earth loves me (and you) enough to take the time to whisper words of love to us when we are going through a really hard time. That just makes me love the LORD that much more!

Even the great prophet Elijah became afraid at one point. Jezebel was furious with Elijah and swore to kill him because he had killed 450 of the followers of the false god, Baal. Elijah fled to the wilderness to hide and prayed that GOD would kill him. But instead, GOD sent a powerful wind, an earthquake and fire. Elijah did not hear the LORD in either of these catastrophes. But instead, he heard a whisper, a gentle voice. The voice of the LORD letting him know that he had nothing to fear.

Just like Elijah, let’s listen for the quiet voice, the whisper of love and assurance from the LORD, especially in times of chaos. HE loves us more than we could ever comprehend!