Elijah was discouraged and afraid. God came to him with the ultimate encouragement. Elijah saw the presence of God. “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. After the earthquake came fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” (NIV, I Kings 1911–12)

At this, Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle, and God spoke to him out of the silence.