But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” (NLT)

The theme of the devotions coming out this week is “God, I am afraid.”  The verse above paints a pretty strong example of this theme.  If I were in the midst of a famine, struggling to feed my family, Elijah’s request would feel like an incredibly difficult sacrifice. I would be afraid that I couldn’t take care of my own family and yet here was this great prophet asking me to make a huge sacrifice.

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In 1 Kings 17, we encounter the prophet Elijah and a widow in Zarephath during a severe drought brought on by God's judgment against the wicked King Ahab. Our verse above beautifully illustrates God's providence and emphasizes the importance of trusting him. It teaches us that faith and obedience are crucial during uncertain times or personal crises, reminding us to believe that God will provide, even when our circumstances seem bleak. The widow chose the uncertain over the certain because she trusted the word of the Lord. Her faith resulted in a miraculous provision of meal and oil throughout the drought. Her act of faith—a response to the true God she had come to know—must have offered Elijah great comfort during his own struggles, especially when his faith wavered amid the overwhelming presence of idolaters in Israel. If God could raise up genuine worshipers among the Gentiles, Elijah could find reassurance that his work in Israel was not in vain.

Have you faced tough challenges that left you afraid? I know that I have. Whether it was a situation in the military when I was asked to make life or death decisions for myself and my soldiers, or career decisions when I was walking away from a known situation into an unknown (even if doing it for the right reasons). In each situation, I have learned to lean into God’s Word and his promises to get me through. It doesn’t always go exactly the way I envisioned it, but it has always gone in a way that, after the fact, I can clearly see God’s hand in the outcomes. Each time I have seen this evidence, it has strengthened my faith and willingness to trust him and the path he has chosen for me. The tough choices don’t always get easier, but isn’t it awesome knowing that the Author of Creation is actively engaged in taking us along the path of growing our faith and trust in him?  

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James 1:5-8 tells us, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”

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I need to continue to ask God to grant me the wisdom to grow in my faith and reduce my fear and doubt. How about you?

Dear God, thank you for giving me all I need. As the father who asked Jesus to heal his son in Mark 9 put it, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Continue to reveal yourself to me every day and help my faith and trust grow. In Jesus’ name, amen.