“Elijah… said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord lives,.. there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word…’ The Lord [said]: ‘Depart from here, turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith… You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.’ So he went… And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and the evening, and he drank from the brook. After a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
“Then the Lord [said], ‘Arise, go to Zarephath… I have commanded a widow there to feed you.’ So he went… And when he came to the gate.., a widow was there… ‘Bring me a little water, that I may drink… Bring me a morsel of bread.’ 12 She said, ‘As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.’ Elijah said, ‘Do not fear… First make me a little cake.., and afterward something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord,.. “The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’ She went and did as Elijah said. She and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty.” 1 Kings 17:1-16
Faithful Elijah was stretched and spent as God’s truth-teller. When pointed prophecy meets wicked royalty, the water is stirred and harsh winds blow, and fear can easily set in. But God. The Lord proved Himself over and over as Guide, Protector, and Provider to His servant, never failing to undertake for his every need. Mile by mile, morning by evening, bite by drop, Elijah experienced his Lord’s exquisite sufficiency. (1 Kings 16:29-34)
In the churl and press of daily demands, activities and uncertainties can deplete us. Unsettled by foreboding media reports, undone by challenging circumstances, we can let worldly noise block out God’s voice and starve ourselves of divine nourishment. Yet as we look and listen for Him, and steadily follow His directions, we’ll find Him wholly trustworthy and enough. Step by step He leads, providing in marvelous ways that show forth His loving care and might. (Psalm 112:6-7)
Sometimes it takes our undoing to be able to recognize God’s doing, our being spent to see how He spends Himself for us. Our impossible situations and emptiness are perfect ground for His possibilities and supply. The key is to do what He says whether we know the next step or understand the how and why. His words always prove true. (Genesis 22:7-8; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Philippians 4:19)
What present circumstances have left us depleted, hungry, fretting about not having enough time, money, energy, rest, wisdom? Are we seeking the Lord’s will each day, and following as He guides? If not, how will we correct our priorities? If so, would we expect Him to show up, and rejoice in His provision? Heeding His voice and trusting His provision never fails His children.
Lord, keep me at my end so I spend every moment sustained by and living for You.
As the rain and snow 