2026-08-10 - God Speaks in a Whisper Author: Fr. Kizito Mgbemere
It is true that God can show Himself in big and powerful ways, and that is why we even call Him _Ome Ihe Ukwu_ — “The One Who Does Great Things.” The Old Testament gives us many examples of this. God spoke to Moses from a _burning bush_ — _Exodus 3:2_. He came to Israel on Mount Sinai with _thunder, lightning, and fire_ — _Exodus 19:16-18_. These are called “theophanies,” and they show us that God is great and mighty. But we make a mistake when we think, “If it’s not big and dramatic, then God is not there.” When we think that way we miss God in quiet, simple moments.
Jesus Himself tells us what He is like. Yes, He can be called the _Lion of Judah_ — _Revelation 5:5_ — strong and powerful. But He also said about Himself, _“Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart”_ — _Matthew 11:29_. When John the Baptist finished his work and pointed to Jesus, he didn’t call Him a lion first. He said, _“Behold, the Lamb of God”_ — _John 1:29_. A lamb speaks of gentleness, calmness, and peace. So the truth is that God is in the big storm, and God is also in the quiet whisper — _1 Kings 19:12_. He is the Lion, and He is the Lamb. If we only look for Him in loud places, we will miss Him in the gentle places where He often speaks.
Elijah had the same struggle. In the First Reading today, he looked for God in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. But God was not in any of those. God came in _“a gentle whisper”_ — _1 Kings 19:11-12_. That story corrects us. God’s power is not about noise or drama. Sometimes a soft whisper from God carries more strength than a storm. From the very beginning, God created us with quiet words. _“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”_ — _Genesis 1:26_. That was it. A gentle conversation in the Trinity, and humanity was born.
The greatest event in history, the Incarnation, was also quiet. There were no trumpets and no crowd. The angel Gabriel simply said to Mary, _“Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you”_ — _Luke 1:28_. And with those words, God became man. Even the Resurrection happened in silence. There was no announcement and no earthquake at the moment He rose. The message was simply, _“He is not here; he has risen”_ — _Luke 24:6_.
Sometimes the cure for sadness, depression, and frustration is not far away. What people need most is a voice of hope, a kind word, a gentle sentence that brings a smile. But how often do we actually speak those words to each other at home? In the Gospel, the disciples were terrified in the storm because they thought they saw a ghost. Jesus simply said, _“Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid”_ — _Matthew 14:27_. Those few words calmed their fear. Families can do the same for each other:
- *Speak life, not criticism.* _“A gentle tongue is a tree of life”_ — _Proverbs 15:4_. Choose words that build up instead of tearing down.
- *Be present in the quiet.* You don’t need a big speech. Sit with them and listen. A soft “I’m here with you” can be God’s whisper through you.
- *Remind each other of God’s love.* _“I have loved you with an everlasting love”_ — _Jeremiah 31:3_. Say it to your spouse, your children, your parents when they are low.
- *Don’t wait for big moments.* Healing often comes in ordinary, quiet moments — at the dinner table, before bed, in a short text.
Don’t underestimate the power of a whisper. A kind word can do what a storm cannot. It can bring hope to someone who is depressed, peace to someone who is frustrated, and faith to someone who is afraid. We pray God to give us the grace so that our homes will be places where God’s gentle voice is heard through us. Amen.
0 Comments
Leave a Comment
Fill the form below to leave a comment