And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12)

We often expect God to speak in “thunderbolts”—booming voices, clear signs, or miraculous solutions. But the experience of Elijah teaches us that God’s voice is often a “still small voice” or a “gentle whisper.” Pope Francis once reminded us that, “Lent is a favorable time to make room for the Word of God. It is the time to switch off the television and open the Bible. It is the time to separate from mobile phones and connect to the Gospel.”

In his message for Lent 2026, Pope Leo XIV highlighted two aspects: listening and fasting, and emphasized that Lent is a time of conversion.

The Pope said, “Every path towards conversion begins by allowing the word of God to touch our hearts and welcoming it with a docile spirit. This year, I would first like to consider the importance of making room for the word through listening. The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into relationship with someone.”

Why does God whisper? Because He wants to be close. You don’t need to be close to someone shouting, but you must lean in to hear a whisper.

This whisper is for intimacy—because only those close by can hear it.

In our digital age, we are “polluted” and overwhelmed by too many messages; we struggle to distinguish the Lord’s voice from the voice of the ego or the world. Only silence can cure this. As Pope Francis once said, Lent is a time for a “healthy ecology of the heart,” cleansing us of useless chatter and gossip.

By learning to clear away the pollution of gossip and useless words, we can better discern God’s voice in the quietness we often ignore.

God is not usually in the drama of the “earthquake” of our emotions. He is in the peace that follows. To hear Him, we must practice this “environmental protection of the heart.” In this year’s Special Jubilee of Saint Francis, this whisper calls us to nature’s simplicity, like St. Francis, to hear God not just in church but in the quiet of creation.

When we stop making noise, we can start receiving His signal.

Let us again listen attentively to the Word of God:

And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12)

Reflection

Do you tend to look for God only in big events or crises? How can you look for Him in the ordinary, quiet moments today?

What “useless words” or gossip can you fast from today to clear your hearing?

When you are silent, what is the first feeling that comes up? Can you invite God into that feeling instead of running from it?

Today’s Prayer

Lord, quiet my soul. I am tired of the wind, the earthquake, and the fire of my own anxieties. Help me to wait for Your gentle whisper. Teach me to value the “light breeze” of Your presence over the loud demands of the world. Lord, cleanse my lips and my ears, so that I may hear You. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening…

If you find this reflection helpful and have not registered to receive our daily email, we invite you to sign up here.

Fundraising Appeal

The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: How Not to Miss God’s Voice?” team, including FLL staff and volunteers.
Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Writer: Paul Yeung
Project Managers: Michael Lam, Rosa Tse
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English and Mandarin Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: “Leyton” – Murf.AI
Mandarin Narrator: “Natalie” – Murf.AI
Audio Editors: Cyan Cheung, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editor: Cyan Cheung
Graphics: Francis Lai, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Clara Chang, Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Long Distance” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Sea of Memory” by Aakash Gandhi https://www.youtube.com/@88keystoeuphoria