So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
I Kings 17:12 NKJV
The greatest of miracles always take place in the most desperate of circumstances. Like most people, I love an amazing supernatural intervention of God in my life. I just hate the environment in which that mostly occurs. I love the inspiration of the ensuing testimony that I might post on social media or the new illustration I might use for a new message, but I am paralyzed by the thoughts of enduring the circumstances which need His assistance.
The passage above is a small slice of one of those moments. A widow woman and son who were navigating a famine and the family reached the end of their rope. Food had run out and there was no natural solution to their problem. They were beyond anxiety and fear. They were at the point of resignation. Their emotional disposition was that mom would make a small cake, they would eat it, and then they would die. It was the final option.
But God…
The story will be familiar to many who read this. Elijah shows up and asks the woman to do something that defied logic. If she would make the cake for him, then there would be a non-stop flow of flour and oil. She did it and so it happened. To make matters even more challenging, her son becomes sick and dies. Elijah (already being on the scene) prays and the boy comes back to life. What an amazing testimony this widow woman receives!
Yet, what an environment had to exist for this story to come to pass…
As I am scrolling through social media accounts today my heart goes out to those who are reporting the loss of loved ones and the loss of jobs and income. These are no small matters. My compassion is sincere as I consider the pain and feelings of futility as many are being hit by the full force of the pandemic. These are not days of constitutional debate and executive power for them. They are trying to figure out how to survive and cope. Your environment at this moment is relentlessly overwhelming. I wish I could change it for you. I wish I could change some things for me too.
I just want to remind you (and me)…
But God…
This pandemic will probably produce and leave numerous unanswered questions both natural and spiritual. Difficult times will always do that. Yet, I am unswerving in my faith that God is at work in both me, my house, my neighbors, this nation, and the globe. I am convinced that He is writing stories in people’s lives that will be their testimony in years to come.
I remember a little over a year ago when I transitioned from 35 years of pastoral ministry that one of my remarks and “reasons” (of which there were several) for the transition was that I sensed that God was wanting to give me some new miracle stories. The amazing supernatural interventions of days past were certainly still inspiring, but I didn’t want to live on past stories, I wanted (and needed) some new and fresh stories. So, my wife and I make the faith leap. The most apprehensive part of the “leap” was the realization that to gain such testimonies, challenging environments were in our future.
I am glad to report that God is faithful…
He will be for those who trust Him…
Has everything been cheery and easy?
(Laugh) What do you think?
This unprecedented time period can be one of two things. It can be your moment of final options -or- it can be your moment of greatest testimony.
I asked God for fresh miracles and providences…
He has provided an environment for just that possibility…
I am expectant…
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