God Will Provide

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, therefore I will hope in him” (Lamentations 3:24)

God sent Elijah to a widow in Zarephath to ask for food. Widows in those days were poor and fragile, and in this woman’s case, with no husband, she was collecting her last sticks of firewood to cook her very last meal. She had no income nor anyone who would care for her. She had a handful of flour and a little bit of oil left. She was going to eat that very last meal with her son before she would await her time and starve to death. 

Elijah asked this woman to give him her last portion of food, just as God commanded. God asked for the only thing this woman had. This is the kind of whole heart that God asks of us. He asks for all. He asks for the only thing left we have in our lives to give us hope. 

A lot of the time, our lives are bitter and not easy-going. Things happen, and often, our future seems grim. When life seems to be creeping away from us, what do we hold onto as we try to grasp what’s left? Do we cling on to our wealth for security? Do we cling to our friends and family for comfort? Do we cling to our own pride and reputation to keep us in the game? When God works to turn us to Him, He will demand that we give up all. He wants us to understand that we are helpless in sin. He wants us to experience that He is the only source of hope in this world. 

When we give up everything to follow Christ, it might feel like our world is about to end. There is nothing to set our security on the horizon. We have nothing to hold onto, and tomorrow we could die. God longs to purge our hearts from trust to this world to trust to Himself. He longs that He becomes our only portion and source of hope. We must trust God wholeheartedly. We must place our future and fears into the hands of the sovereign and loving God. 

Lamentations 2:22 promises, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

When the widow chose to obey and entrust to God all that she had, even though death would come faster at her, God was faithful in providing and caring for her. He blessed her with a miracle. Her small jar of flour and her little oil never ran out. There was always enough for another meal. 

Have we chosen to obey God and entrust Him with everything? When we surrender ourselves to follow Christ and take up the cross in obedience, God will provide and open an unthinkable path for our seemingly doomed lives. 

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Lord, I entrust my whole life to You. Please forgive me when I doubt You and doubt Your love. Teach me to be faithful in following Your ways. Teach me to trust You and make You my only portion and source of hope. Do not let me put my trust in anything else. Let me trust You and You alone. I surrender my whole life into Your hands. Use it as You will, and I will trust that You will provide in time of need. In Jesus’ name, amen.