Read 1 Kings 17:17-24

As a parent, I find myself so drawn to this widow at the beginning of the passage. Whether you’re a parent or not, many of us have faced heart-breaking, gut wrenching circumstances in life that have left us in a state of complete helplessness.

There is a saying that goes, “God will never give you more than you can handle”.  The very passage of scripture in 1 Kings proves that the previous saying couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only does the widow face starvation for herself and her son, she goes on to watch her son take his last breath. This is, by far, more than this woman can handle.

I don’t believe there is any way to prepare ourselves for difficulties in life like this widow faced. I do believe, however, that God shows us a way, through His word, to prepare ourselves for complete reliance on Him in the midst of life’s deepest hurts.

Today, I need to start by praying and asking God to know Him better. The more I know the very character of God, the better I will be at seeking His will over my life. As Paul said in Philippines 3:10, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”  Most of us want to know the power of His resurrection and to become like him in His death but we skip over the middle . . .  to participate in his sufferings. To fully know Christ, I need to know His hurts, too, and that is a very tough prayer to pray.

Lord, if your will is for people to see me walk through brokenness, to be able to see the hope that only You can give, I need to be all in! Help me to focus more on Your purposes and less on my plans. Lead me in pursuing more of who You are and less of what You can do. Align my thoughts on all You have given and not on what I have lost. In the precious name of Jesus, I cry out to You. Amen.

Rayonna Miller