How Discouraging!

There are often events in our lives that leave us discouraged. Usually I get discouraged when things don't turn out quite like I had hoped. Maybe a friend leaves town and you won't see them for a while, or rent goes up, or your car gets stolen or hit and ran and it just leaves you down in the dumps.

1 Kings 17 presents a series of discouraging circumstances for a widow and Elijah. Elijah takes a message against the evil king Ahab and has to run away to live alone by a brook where he doesn't know where the next meal is coming from. Later the brook and source of water dries up. Then he finds out that the woman who is supposed to help keep him alive is a widow who has nothing herself. How discouraging to the widow, who all of a sudden has another mouth to feed though she is going to cook her last meal before starving. Then to cap matters off, her son dies. Discouragement after discouragement.

But as you look through the story, each discouragement is met with encouragement.

How will Elijah survive in the wilderness? God will provide Him food in an unlikely way. Where will he get water and food since his brook dried up? God provided Him food in an unlikely way. Where will the widow get enough food to feed Elijah, herself and her son? God provided them food in an unlikely way. What will this woman do now that her son has died? God provided him life again in an unlikely way.

I think you've figured out the theme that is over this chapter, "God will provide." God knows our needs and can meet them. It is easy to act on our own power if we don't see God working in the way we want. In 1 Samuel 13 king Saul loses patience with Samuel and God to save him from the Philistine enemy, resulting in the announce of the end of his kingdom.

To know that God has all our best interests in mind is a comforting thought. All we need to do is to keep the issues before Him in prayer, and He will take care of things for us. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." What an encouragement to know that the most powerful, the creator of the heavens and earth hears us and will fill our hearts with a peace that is beyond understanding if we leave our burdens with Him. Let your heart be encouraged because of our sure resource of prayer and a caring God.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30