This week’s Bible study with members of The Gap was about listening to God (and, in turn, following His will for us) when he speaks to us. The leader of the study used several scripture references, one of which stood out at me — 1 Kings 19:11-13:

11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

How often do I want God to communicate with me by way of a sign such as a huge wind, an earthquake or a fire? Practically all the time, though not through those exact methods. How often do I want God to communicate with me by way of a gentle whisper? Rarely, if ever. Which method does He typically use? Unfortunately for me, the latter.

Even if He did speak through fires or strong winds, would it change how I respond? I’d like to answer with a definitive “Of course!” but I’m not entirely sure it would, as it takes more than seeing a blazing fire or healing and feeling a strong wind. Instead, it takes a strong faith, a faith like Mary showed during her encounter with the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:26-38:

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God.”

38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Talk about a disciple!

Instead of asking why she was chosen or if she can think about it for a bit and get back to Gabriel (like I do), Mary willingly accepts God’s call, asking only “How can I have a child if I’m a virgin?” After a brief explanation from Gabriel, Mary replies with the simple, pure response that God wishes we’d all say: Yes!

I can only wish that someday I’ll have a tenth, even a hundredth, of the faith this young woman had!