I was recently reminded of a story in 2 Kings 4. A woman has lost her husband, her money, and is about to lose her sons. Back then if a widow could not pay her debt her sons would be taken from her as slaves.
Can you imagine being in such a desperate situation?
She has nothing but a jar of oil and a load of debt.
Have you ever felt this desperate or just completely overwhelmed? Like you are being pulled in different directions and have no idea where relief will come from? Maybe you’re out of money too or still waiting for a husband or just plain exhausted. I can’t relate to this widow exactly, but lately I have been tired. Oh so tired. I haven’t slept through the night in about a year now and at times I feel like I just don’t know how I can possibly keep going.
In 2 Kings 4:1-7 you can see what this woman did in her desperation. She “cries out” to the prophet Elisha and he wants to know, “What do you have in your house?” There was nothing but a jar of oil. After asking this odd question he makes an even odder request – collect jars and vessels and whatever you can from your neighbors. If I was her I probably would have told him, “That’s a nice idea Mr. Prophet but I need actual help. They’re going to take my sons!” But this faithful woman listens and next thing you know she has many, many jars of oil. There’s enough to sell and pay all of her debt AND have extra for her and her sons to live on. Wow! True story. You just can’t make this stuff up.
I love a happy ending… But how does this apply? I’m thankful that God can take the little we have and multiply it. When we are low He meets us where we’re at and HE is enough. After all, he fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14). When we take our “little bit left” to Jesus He will be our answer in a desperate situation.
It’s one thing to say we will trust Him in our desperation; it’s another thing to actually do that. I wish I could tell you exactly how to have that much faith but the truth is, I’m still learning that myself. I can tell you this – it takes practice. It takes time. But if you will keep turning to God in whatever situation you need Him for, He will meet you there and provide all you need. He is Jehovah-Jireh which means “the Lord will provide.”
