Does Revival Come Softly?

Does revival always come with a "bang?"  Is there always a overt outpouring of the Spirit, or does he ever use subtler means?  When you hear about revivals and awakenings in the past, the stories include police men with no crime to stop, bars closed down for lack of patronage, families reunited, communities transformed, increased evangelism and missions work, animals unable to recognize their owns because of the drastic changes in personality, and multitudes of people turning away from sin to the living God, through Jesus Christ, and becoming fruit bearing followers who transformed their world.

These are the types of stories we hear most often in relation to revival.  But is that how all revivals happen? Are there any accounts were revival comes softly?  Are there examples where churches and communities have found themselves in the middle of a transformation that had occurred through the accumulation of a thousand tiny changes?

Come to think of it, how does one know when revival has come (or is coming)?  I think we can say the marks of revival are:

• Dissatisfaction with the status quo.  This is an awareness that all is not the way it should be.  Believers begin to realize that they have slipped into complacency, and desire to get out of the rut.
• The return to the spiritual disciplines.  This would include prayer, Bible study, meditation, evangelism, worship, etc.
• The desire for and pursuit of personal and corporate holiness.  Believers become increasingly aware of their sinfulness, and yearn to be more holy.
• The fruit of the Spirit is clearly visible among God's people.  During seasons of revival the fruit of the Spirit is in full bloom.  His presence makes people more loving, more merciful, more generous, more desirous of peace, etc.
• Genuine conversions that result in fruitful disciples.  During genuine revival, even the lost become increasingly aware of their sinfulness, and flee to Christ to be rescued.  Their lives are marked by change, sometimes drastic, sometimes more subtle, but the change is evident (and permanent).

The marks listed here give us a good starting point for answering the question, "How do we know revival is coming (or already upon us)?".  As I am thinking about these marks, it seems that they can happen in both subtle and dramatic ways.

Imagine a person sitting in church for years, and during a course of time coming to realize that there is something missing in his life.  Although he can't quite put his finger on it, everything just seems off to him.  As time passes, this uneasy feeling grows.  One Sunday, during the singing or the sermon, the Lord reveals to him what's missing: he has drifted away from the Lord, his affection has grown cold.  This situation is more subtle in nature, because the person gradually drifts toward the point of confrontation.

Now imagine a person sitting in church one day, unaware that anything is wrong.  Yet, during the singing or the sermon, the Lord reveals to her that she missing something.  Her heart has grown cold, and she no longer delights in the Lord.  This situation is more dramatic, because this person is confronted more abruptly.

Both individuals come to a similar point in their lives, but they take different roads to get there.  It just may be that sometimes revival comes softly.  Maybe it sneaks up on some people before they have the chance to harden their hearts, stiffen their necks, and muster a resistance.  Maybe it's just the patience of God expressed toward the object of his love--the church.

What do you think? Does revival ever come softly?  What are some of the marks of revival you look for?  How do you know when you have been revived?  I would really love to hear your thoughts.