ODJ: training daze
February 8, 2011
Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you” (vv.8-9).
READ: 1 Kings 17:7-16
After graduation from college, I worked for an organization that did not pay well. It was tough.
Sometimes I couldn’t even afford my next meal. During that time, my mother became sick. I felt awful not being able to help pay for her hospital expenses. It was one trial after another, and each new trial was harder than the previous one.
In 1 Kings 17, we find God training Elijah. By the waters of Kerith, God used ravens to bring Elijah his daily meals. But as the drought persisted, the babbling brook became a silent stream, and then it slowed to a mere trickle.
We read: “But after a while the brook dried up . . . then the Lord said to Elijah” (vv.7-8). Often we would rather have God show us the next step before our resources are totally depleted. Waiting can be nerve-racking. It can be frustrating. But this is all part of the training process. We need to learn that we’re dependent on God, and Him alone. We need to learn that when our comfort zone is compromised, God is still in control.
Elijah was told by God, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you” (v.9). Zarephath was enemy territory. Why would anyone offer Elijah shelter, especially a widow? They were often the poorest of the poor! Everything God told Elijah to do defied man’s wisdom; it demanded trust. God was training His servant to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
He learned the lesson reflected in these lyrics: “Now I can see testing comes from above, God strengthens His children and purges in love. My Father knows best, and I trust in His care; through purging, more fruit I will bear.” Are you ready for God’s training? —Poh Fang Chia
What is your usual response when faced with difficulties? What new perspective should you work on?
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Lord, please help me trust You at all times!
as mere human beings, it’s much easier for us to show a mournful expression, wandering around in a daze towards difficulties, However I believe in every single condition, good or bad, we still have a choice either to keep smiling
or to feel downcast. It is our choice in response.
Do not let yourself “Overwhelmed by bad things happening to you” but let your conscience defeat bad into good things by giving thanks for ‘Everything”. It might seem very simple but by being thankful it would greatly help us to see other reasons why we can still smile.
“Blessed are those who can still smile and see beautiful things in times of difficulties”.