I Kings 17:13-14 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”
You’re probably thinking, “that’s a strange verse to start a devotional with.” After the chaos of my past week, you can’t put anything past me. I’ll probably be reciting some Revelation to you soon! Lol. It’s been one crazy, chaotic week. I’m pooped. I feel like I poured everything I had into doing the best I could do, but I probably didn’t do enough. The day is filled with figuring out the priorities, disposable scrub jackets, gowns, masks, face shields and gloves. Rushing about with utmost caution. Listening, laughing, crying, loving, and learning. I love my job. I truly do. I love that God blessed me with a job that I actually love. Lately, it’s been a little tough. That old saying holds true for me though, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” I go to the Lord because I know that He is my strength.
In the scripture above, God had brought a drought on the land. Elijah the prophet asked this lady to bring him some bread. In verse 12, she told him, “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, ‘I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.'” She was out of food. There was no more food to be found, no grocery store to run to, no garden in the back yard, nothing but just enough flour and oil to make one more meal. She planned to make this last meal for her son and herself and then just die of starvation. But Elijah told her to make a small loaf for him and a loaf for them, and that the jar of flour and jug of oil would never run out. She did as he said, and guess what? Everytime she went to that kitchen, there was flour and oil for every single meal. She had plenty, and it lasted through the whole drought.
This woman put this man of God first. She trusted God. Her situation was much more grave than the struggles of my week. She and her son were about to die, yet she put her faith in God. She put Elijah first trusting that God would fulfill his promise to her.
When we are in the midst of a storm, rather than trying to control the wind and the rain, we need to turn over the reins to the One who reigns. Take some time each day to put God first. Carve out a few minutes in your busy schedule to read scripture, pray, and enjoy a little quiet time with Christ. The only way to find calm in the chaos of this crazy world is by trusting in Christ. Put Him first, and then everything else will gradually fall into place. There is no better calming force that Christ our Lord!
Inspirations from the Funny Farm 