Amidst the coronavirus/ COVID 19 pandemic, many of us have found ourselves in unfamiliar territory. All that is occurring is new to us and may cause us to wonder what life, as we know it, will look like and how to move forward while in this struggle. We have all faced trying times, and like us, many of our biblical ancestors did as well so, rest assured knowing we will get through this. Our God is in control, and He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Do you remember the widower who struggled and yet decided to put her trust and God and obey Him despite her circumstances? Like the widower, we too must dare to believe and trust God always.
In 1 King 17:8-17, this widower was obedient to God, and as a result, she and her son lived and had a consistent supply of food; however, though she was progressing and reaping the benefits of God’s daily provision, to her surprise, her son falls ill and dies. Through this text, I attempted to place myself in this woman’s shoes. I asked the questions that she may have asked, Lord, why would you spare my son only to let him die? Why sustain me if this was the fate of my child Instead, I would have chosen for us to die together after consuming the last piece of bread. Going through this text and seeing this obedient servant of God adds another layer of understanding that just because we are progressing does not mean we can negate the struggle’s reality.
The Lord says that in this life, we will suffer many trials and tribulations. However, we are to be of good cheer (John 16:33) and understand that He is there to help us through struggle. Though the widower was obedient and had the faith to give up her and her son’s last meal, she yet found herself struck with tragedy. Hadn’t she proved her faith while sharing in her lack, as instructed? How did the death of her son serve a purpose? At times in our lives, we all can relate to the widower. It may be that a child or loved one died, and for others, it may seem as though every time we are getting ahead, something comes along and knocks us back to what we may feel is square one.
Whatever the struggle is, we have the assurance that we can get back up and continue to progress towards the direction God is taking us. God desires for us to progress despite the struggles we face. He provided a way for us to continue to move forward, fighting the good fight of faith. His provision is daily, and His grace is sufficient. It is not His will to get stuck on last year’s blessing or last week’s blessings, for that matter. We are to grab on to His mercies that are new to us every morning. Knowing that God provided for the widow, we must rest assured, believing He will continue to provide for each of us. My prayer is that we not focus on the struggle but instead focus on Jesus, The One who ensures that we progress through the struggle.
Lord, thank you for giving us peace in knowing that all things are working together for our good, according to Romans 8:28. Give us the courage to exercise our faith as we trust You continuously. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Further Reading:
Romans 5:3-4
James 1:3
1 Timothy 6:12
