Have you ever felt like throwing in the towel? Have you come to the point where you feel it just isn’t worth it anymore? Have you ever worn multiple pairs of shoes out due to walking around over and over in a season without a specific transition date? Have you ever given your all to something only to have those who were a part of it turn on you and bring problems into your life?
We have probably experienced at least one of those questions during our life time. Some of you may even be there now, but the most important thing is our response. What we do now manifests what we do next. It can work positively or negatively. We can play victim or be conquerers and overcomers. It’s a choice. For a while now I’ve been thinking about what I was going to pen. Would I write about some new Ancient Near East tidbit that I’ve learned? Maybe I could just blow out and debunk the latest fads and trends in the Christian and Hebrew Roots movements? Maybe I should focus on the “Deep State” and tie it into the rapture that happened like a week ago? 😉 That seems to be selling pretty well these days. Maybe I should write about Tabernacles or Yom Kippur since these Scriptural feasts are upon us? I decided to let other ministers deal with all of the above. Why not write something that would bring hope to someone struggling this month? There’s a wonderful story in 2 Kings about a widow and a choice she made. One choice she made not only saved her life and children but impacted a generation to come. The choices we make reveal what is truly in our hearts.
2 Kings 4:1–7 Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. “And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.” So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
Many times when we are under pressure we look to any and everything that can bring us quick comfort. That is how our flesh works. We’ve all experienced pressure and pain in our lives. This is reality. Life isn’t perfect all the time. There are ups, downs, and circles all throughout our lives. The real issue is where or how do we find comfort? We may find comfort in stuffing ourselves with food. Others look for comfort in gathering people around them to take up their offense. Others find it pouting and seeking pity. Others find comfort in throwing in the towel. Some find comfort in justifying why it isn’t worth it anymore. Others find comfort in being the victim. The list can go on and on, but something I’ve seen time and time again is in order to experience victory in this season of our lives, we can’t get stuck in a memory or memories of the last season. Everything that can bring us through long seasons of drought, Yahweh has the answer right there within our reach. His instruction is the best medicine we can take. What do you have in your house?
When we get under pressure we more often than not look for comfort instead of looking at the instruction of the Lord. This woman had what she needed to make it through right in her house. She missed it because her focus was solely on what was going to happen. I’m sure she even felt like there was nothing else left to do but hand her children over. All it takes is one word from Yahweh to change any situation in our lives. Her answer was right there within reach in her house. She didn’t pout or play the victim card but instead obeyed the instruction of the Lord and received victory. If we determine to do what we can do, Yahweh will in return do what we can’t do. This widow’s world went from dark to light in an instant. Her world went from death to life in an instance because she chose to follow the instruction of the Lord. Are we following our own instruction or the Lord’s? Selah.
