Out of Emptiness He provides!

I am fascinated by story of Elijah's visit to Zarephath where he encounters a single parent mom and her son. Elijah was sent to by God and was told that a widow would provide for him. I wonder what Elijah's expectations were on what God had told him. I wonder if he imagined a wealthy widow who had an abundance of resources.

When Elijah entered the city he saw a women collecting sticks, and assumed it was the widow who was to help him. He was tired and thirsty from his journey, so he immediately requested she bring him water and bread. He assumed what God's provision was going to look like. Little did he realize that this widow was collecting sticks to prepare her last meal for her and her son. She had just enough oil and flour for her and her son to eat and then die.

I think as a single parent I would have been in shocked at the request. Here was a man (who had an abundance of privilege in his society) and I was a widow who was out gather sticks to make my last meal. The last thing I would want to do is feed someone else before my son and I, much less this stranger.

Elijah had enough encounters with the living God that He knew God's provision wasn't limited by the amount of flour and oil she had. Something in Elijah's next response communicated this to the widow. He was obviously tired and hungry and had been traveling along way, yet he was coming to her. He was telling her that God would not let her flour or oil run out. She was encountering someone who had a belief in someone, God, more than himself. This man was confident in God's provision, no matter how dire the circumstances looked. So she took the risk, amidst all the evidence to the contrary. And, God provided! The flour and oil lasted.

Where are you at your wits end? How is it causing you to be self-consumed? God has a plan! It is in our emptiness that we find Him. He is at the end of our rope. He just usually doesn't show up in ways we expect. Are you in an Elijah season, where you trust God completely amidst your circumstances but still place your expectations on what His provision looks like? Or, maybe you are in a widow season where you see no hope, no resolution, only death? God shows up for both!

When A Wolf Is Your Thorn In The Flesh

I have been pondering Paul's thorn in his flesh recently. The metaphor sounds very painful, if you have ever had a sliver for any amount of time, you know how irritating and painful it can be. The metaphor raises alot of interesting considerations, especially relevant for self-absorbed marriages.

My first thought revolved around questions of "what is my thorn?" Certainly if you are married to a Wolf, your thorn in your flesh is probably your spouse. For other's it may be their fiances, for other's it may be a physical condition, and for other's it may be an addiction. Identifying your thorn in your flesh is an important first step. What is it that you are consumed with? What causes you the most pain?

It is in this pain that we can become consumed with self-absorption and focus on the pain. In the pain we question God. Why me? We plead for relief or rescue. We may even feel like our thorn is unjust. It serves as a constant reminder that our life is hard!

That is right where God's grace starts! In our pain, we turn to HIM! Once we are through with our pleading and begging for relief, His answer is "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Think about what keeps you humble. I know when I get past my whining stage of yet again when my thorn has been irritating me, I am reminded that I am completely and utterly dependent on God! Amidst all the "praise" I may receive from others, God reminds me that he is Sovereign! I am nothing without Him and what who He has created me to be.

When our thorn is a Wolf, sometimes it seems like the answer is to get rid of the Wolf. But, that is not always the answer. What if the Wolf is God's vehicle your transformation? What if God is using the Wolf to draw you closer to Him? Do you want to miss out? Let me take a moment of caution here: IF YOU ARE IN A PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT STAYING WITH THAT KIND OF WOLF! You need to seek out the wisdom of a shelter that works with domestic violence as soon as possible! When you are in a physically abusive relationship, your Wolf is your distorted thoughts of why you staying!!!

The other amazing gift of a thorn in your flesh is humility! When you are succeeding in life because of "your" efforts, you are getting praise and glory. When you are succeeding in life amidst your thorn, God gets the glory, because you know it would have been impossible without Him!

Look to God's grace today whenever your thorn irritates you and remember He is at work in you. His grace is sufficient!