In a Lack of Supply, God is Glorified
By: Hannah Hyatt
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” II Corinthians 12:9-10
How often have you looked at yourself, your life, or your circumstances and felt a sense of inadequacy? I know I have felt this way often. Maybe I lack a certain ability that I think I should have, maybe a situation in life makes me feel as though I can’t be successful, or maybe I just look at my failures and shortcomings and think, “I don’t see how the Lord could use me.” While a certain amount of self-evaluation and honesty is helpful for growth, we need to realize that God can and will work through our weaknesses so that He receives the glory for the outcome. I want to take a few minutes to look at the lives of some ladies in the Bible where God worked mightily through limited human resources.
The Widow of Zarephath Lacked Food (I Kings 17:8-24)
Food is one of the most basic necessities of life, yet due to a famine in the land, this woman and her son were down to their last meal. Despite this fact, God sent Elijah to Zarephath to be fed. I’m sure there were other people who had food to spare, but God chose this widow to sustain the prophet. We know the story – as long as the drought lasted, her barrel of meal and cruse of oil did not waste or fail. Because she could not supply for herself, God showed His power on her behalf to sustain herself, her son, and Elijah. Later in the story, we read that her son died and that the Lord raised him back to life. The last verse of the chapter shows the “why” behind the miracles – to help the widow understand that Elijah was a man of God and that the Word of the Lord is truth. What a wonderful lesson to be learned through this trial!
A Certain Widow Lacked Finances (II Kings 4:1-7)
Here we see a widow in need again. There was a debt owed that she could not pay, and the creditor was going to take her two sons. She brings her problem to Elisha, who wisely says, “What can I do?” (paraphrased). She tells him she has a single pot of oil. He tells her to borrow as many vessels as she can, and she fills those vessels with her single pot of oil. She sells the oils to settle the debt, and her sons are saved. Again, we see where God worked in a situation of human frailty (some might even say error – the debt) to show His might. This lady was in an impossible situation and could not provide for herself. It took faith to obey the word of the prophet, but the Lord miraculously supplied the need!
The Shunammite Woman Lacked Family (II Kings 4:8-37)
This lady and her husband were models of hospitality. They fed Elijah when he was in the area and eventually built him a room on their house where he could rest on his journeys. They were able to provide food and shelter for themselves and for Elijah, but there was one thing they lacked – a child. Elijah tells her that she will have a child, and it almost sounds like she doesn’t believe him (verse 16). We know she does have a son, and that one day, as he is in the field, he falls ill and later dies. The woman runs to the prophet for help, and on her way, she says, “It shall be well” and “It is well.” Her faith grew because she learned to rely on the Lord when circumstances were out of her control, and God proved He was faithful in every situation.
A Young Maid Lacked Familiarity (II Kings 5:1-14)
In this story, the Syrians attacked Israel and took captives. Among them was a young woman whose name we are not given. She wound up as a maid in the home of Naaman, a captain in the army of Syria. Imagine being taken from your home, your family, and everything familiar and comforting. It would be easy to be resentful and bitter in this situation, but this young maid is a wonderful example of accepting difficulties with grace. As we know, Naaman is diagnosed with leprosy. Rather than rejoicing over his disease, she tells his wife where he can find healing. Again, we know the story. Namaan goes to Elijah, is told to dip in the river, and is cleansed of his leprosy. At the end of this passage, Naaman acknowledges that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. He comes to believe in the power of God because a young maid refused to let the struggles of life choke out her concern for the welfare of others.
I love the first few lines of “Day by Day.”
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
Today, you may be dealing with a lack of __________ (you fill in the blank) in your life. Whatever it may be, know that God desires to and can work through you. He uses all things for our good and His glory, and we can take comfort in His sovereignty and love. In our weakness, we are made strong because HIS grace is sufficient.
