What Do You Do When Your Only Hope Is A Miracle?

First Kings 17:8- 24 tells the story of a woman who needed two miracles.

When the prophet Elijah first saw the Widow of Zarephath, she was gathering sticks to make a fire. The prophet asked her for water and food. She explained that she didn’t have any bread and only a little flour and oil which she was going to prepare for herself and her son so that they could eat and die.                                                                                                                                         

Elijah told the woman not to fear, but instead to make a cake for him and then for herself and her son. He shared with her what the Lord said – “The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.” The widow followed Elijah’s instructions and as he said, the flour was not used up and the oil didn’t run out.            

After some time, the woman’s son became sick and died. The woman cried out to Elijah for a second miracle. He prayed to the Lord. God heard Elijah’s cries and revived the widow’s son.

There’s a lesson for us in the widow’s story:

Do Not Fear

Whatever the situation you may be facing, fully turn it over to the Lord.

As long as you trust in your Heavenly Father, you can always have hope. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:7, “And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.” (See 2 Corinthians 1:3-7)                                                           

Listen To Those Who Are Encouraging You

God sent Elijah to a non-Christian to give her hope. He will do so much more for His beloved children.

As a believer, He will send you hope and encouragement through others as well. When you are going through a trial, surround yourself with those individuals who will speak life to you.

Be Obedient

The Widow of Zerephath didn’t ask Elijah any questions. She didn’t call her friends to get their opinions. She didn’t ask family members what they thought. The widow recognized that Elijah was a man of God and she did everything he told her to do.

What is the Lord saying to you? It may not make sense in the natural, but we serve a God who can make the foolish seem wise. (1 Corinthians 1:25)

As a believer, you can believe in miracles and expect them. Do not ever give up hope. The Lord may not work out the situation exactly how you want Him to, but He will miraculously work it out for your good.

So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah. 1 Kings 17:15-16(NKJV)