Is life beating you down in more than one area? I’ve been there before, and I’m learning much from the account of the widow of Zarephath in the Old Testament.
Turn to 1 Kings 17 to follow along with me today. It’s a short but powerful story that God has been repeating to me for the past few weeks. I want to share insights with you today to give you hope.
When Life Beats You Down
God told the prophet Elijah to go to a widow’s home. She lived in the city of Sidon, in the village of Zarephath. My study Bible tells me that this was Gentile territory, where the wicked queen Jezebel had once lived. Elijah made an 80 or 90 mile journey to this woman’s home, because God said, “I have given her my instructions.” (1 Kings 17:9 NLT) He was willing to go outside Israelite territory because God had a master plan in place.
We don’t know what God told the woman, but it was probably something like, “Make bread.” This was a daily practice during normal times. But the entire region was facing a drought, and the woman had only enough supplies for one last meal. However, we know that she listened to God, because when Elijah arrived, she was gathering sticks for the fire.
Though she had meager supplies, she was willing to share with Elijah because she believed she had heard from God. She told him, “I swear by the Lord your God…” Maybe she only had a mustard-seed sized faith. Perhaps she was leaning on Elijah’s faith more than her own. But God took what she had and used it in a mighty way.
She baked one last loaf in faith. This widow had a son, but he was not yet old enough to provide for household needs. She must have been weighed down with grief over her husband’s death, financial destitution, and threats of starvation. When she shook the last bit of flour from the jar and dripped the last drops of oil on top, I’m sure she held her breath in doubt and fear. Maybe she prayed for the first time in her life, saying, “God, make good on your promise to Elijah.” But she dared not trust the promise for herself–yet.
They ate a meal together, and the next day, she found just enough oil and flour to make another loaf. God provided for their needs, just as he provided manna and quail for the Israelites in the wilderness. Surely this provision brought her relief. She must have felt a spark of hope and joy when she saw flour in the jar and oil in the flask every morning.
God wants to grow your faith to mountain heights during your trials, even if you have small-sized faith right now. #faith #trustGod #Christianfaith Click To Tweet
When Life Beats You Down Again
Yet tragedy would soon strike again. Her precious son became sick. He was her last link to her husband. Her hope for financial survival. The great joy of her mother’s heart. How could the God who miraculously provided flour and oil not save him from his sickness? When her son took his last breath, something died inside of her. She blamed herself, thinking that her sins must have caused this tragedy (don’t we often unfairly blame ourselves in times of grief too?).
But Elijah interceded for her. In this post, I wrote about the power of intercessory prayer. This is one of the most dramatic examples of intercessory prayer in the Bible. Elijah cried out to God to heal the boy. He stretched himself out over the boy’s body three times in fervent intercession.
Then God’s power broke through. The boy regained his breath. The mother regained her hope. Her great sorrow turned to indescribable joy. She told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.” She used the name Yahweh for Lord, which indicated her respect for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Trust that God will take whatever you offer and transform it into something amazing, far beyond your expectations. #lifeoffaith #christianliving #hope Click To Tweet
If Life Is Beating You Down
Though this widow faced many trials in a single season, God redeemed her from each one. She was outside God’s family. She had lost her husband, and then lost her son. The famine threatened to take everything. So much pressure from so many directions.
But because this widow had a grain of faith, God blessed her. He provided for her in miraculous ways, not just once but many times. He showed her favor, care, concern and loving-kindness. God also blessed her with Elijah’s comforting presence, which she surely considered an honor.
I pray that if you are facing many trials in a single season, this Bible story will uplift you. Just as God reached out to this widow, he will reach out to you. Your struggles matter to him. He doesn’t simply want you to survive–he wants you to thrive from his abundant power and provision. He wants to grow your faith to mountain heights during your trials, even if you have small-sized faith right now. Depend on him to meet your needs. Act in obedience, just like the widow did, and trust that God will take whatever you offer and transform it into something amazing, far beyond your expectations.
If this post ministered to you, I’d love to hear from you and pray for you. You can use my contact page to request prayer from me, which is always kept confidential.
God doesn't simply want you to survive--he wants you to thrive from his abundant power and provision. #encouragement #hope #devotional Click To Tweet
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