Jen’s Gem: When your faith is in God, you’ll never lack a thing.

Yesterday in my women’s Bible study, we were discussing the story of Elijah and the widow. It appeared to be a simple story at first, yet after studying it, we discovered many hidden gems and lessons that each of us could relate to. That’s the beauty of reading the Bible. There’s always a diamond just below the surface.

In short, there was a drought in the land. No food or water. This widow and her son were preparing their last meal when the prophet Elijah shows up. He was a stranger in their land. He asks the woman to fetch him some water and give him some bread. Can you imagine what might be going through her mind in this moment? Perhaps something like,

“Uhh. Dude. Have you looked around? Do you see what’s going on? I barely have enough food and water for my son and I and you want me to give some to you?”

But she doesn’t say that. She brings Elijah water and bread. She gives him the very last morsels of food and drink that she has. They share this  veritable “last supper” and do you know what happens? The widow never runs out of food or water. Why? Because when Elijah asked her for bread and water, he spoke a promise of God. He told her that if she were to do this act of kindness, her jars of oil and flour would never be empty.

I oversimplify this story because of space but this is the gist of it. I encourage you to check it out. (Click here to read.)

While we are not living in a physical drought in the United States, there is a drought of kindness, gratefulness, and love. Just turn on the news or scroll through social media if you don’t believe me. Oh sure, there are pockets of all of these and more but can you honestly describe our country as kind, grateful, and loving? 

I am a naturally kind person. I love people. I want to do all I can to help them. I love seeing people succeed. I enjoy when they learn something new and I was the source. My whole spirit lights up. My heart “pops” as I often say. (Similar to when I see a newborn baby’s toes!)

Over the last few weeks, I taught someone a new skill and they will be starting a cool project soon. I used my gifts of writing to help someone else launch a new business. I shared a funny story and got a belly laugh from another person. I encouraged someone out of a very dark place. Woo eee! Can you say happy dance?

This is my nature – this is who I am. This is how I show up to the world. So what’s the big deal? What’s all the commotion about? Why is this worth a blog post?

Because, like that widow, I was in my own drought. My bread and water supplies were running on empty.  Don’t misunderstand me. I had plenty of food and water, but my inner resources were running low. I was at the bottom of the container scraping up those last morsels so that I could “do life.”

Like you, there is much responsibility on my shoulders. I have people who depend on me, most importantly, my children. I can’t hide under the covers when I have a tough day as much as I would love to. I can’t hop on a plane to Aruba when life’s trials overwhelm me. So what do I do? I do what that widow did. I dig deep into my faith and look to God’s promises.

That’s what I did. Oh sure, I hid under the covers for a spell. Years ago, I would’ve stayed there. Not today. Now, I have better tools in my toolbox to pull me out of the grips of my emotional droughts and the best tool is God’s Word. I read it. I speak it. I get others to speak it with me. The Bible tells us when two or more stand in agreement, there’s nothing God won’t do.

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19 NKJV)

Elijah and that widow were in agreement. They both believed that if she were to share her bread and water, neither would go hungry and they didn’t. And neither will you or I when we place our faith in God. He is a promise keeper. He makes a way when there’s no way. He’s a miracle worker. He’s the light in the darkness. That’s who God is.

This week, I want to encourage you to put your own droughts in God’s hands. Maybe it’s a drought of good health or a drought of finances. Perhaps it’s a drought of friends. It doesn’t matter. God is well-able to fill your jars and I guarantee you, just as Scarlett O’Hara said in “Gone With the Wind,” you’ll never be hungry again.