“The LORD was not in the earthquake.” – 1 Kings 19:11
This line is one of my favorites in Scripture, because it serves as such a practical reminder.
It’s so easy to get swept up in the noise. And by noise, I don’t just mean the obvious—like the news or social media—but all the constant “doing.” The endless cycle of tasks, moving from one thing to the next, barely pausing for breath.
Yes, in the midst of this busyness, the Lord is with us, but this verse from 1 Kings reminds us that we don’t find Him in all that noise.
We find the Lord in solitude.
Now, solitude doesn’t necessarily mean being physically alone.
We can experience solitude even in a crowded church. I love Cal Newport’s definition: “solitude is a state of mind when your thoughts are free from input from other minds.”
This can happen in prayer, on a quiet walk, or during a peaceful drive. These moments of solitude become fortresses that ground us when life feels like an earthquake.
Maybe it’s time to turn off the radio, pause the podcast, and remember that you are a dwelling place of the Lord. His is the only mind you want shaping yours.