Many Christians are dealing with huge obstacles in their lives: job loss, a stressful marriage, sickness, children struggling with faith. They think, “I can’t see past this mountain in front of me. If I don’t have a breakthrough, it’s over!”
No matter how bleak the circumstances of your life, God is right in the midst of things. He loves to show his care and provision to those who love him and put their trust in him. A perfect example of this is found in the miracle of Elisha and the poor widow who was destitute and desperate. In those times, when you could not meet your obligations, the creditors took your children as well as your belongings.
“A certain woman … cried out to Elisha, saying, ‘My husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves’” (2 Kings 4:1). Elisha might have referred her to the temple for assistance but he felt led to go another direction. He was about to reveal God in action in her life.
The woman had only one jar of oil in her house and the prophet instructed her, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few” (4:3). In Scripture, oil represents God’s blessing and provision. Elisha instructed her further, “When you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones” (4:4).
The widow obeyed the direction of the prophet and as she poured oil from her own jar, it filled the borrowed jars, one after the other, until they were all full. There was an endless supply of oil!
When God tells us he has our needed supply, it is not just a meager amount. God has everything we need — absolutely everything. The jars in this story represent our capacity for faith; the more “jars” we bring to God the more he will fill us up. This account reminds us to trust him for our supply, whether material, emotional, or spiritual.
Not only was this widow’s need met, but now she had a powerful testimony of an amazing deliverance for her neighbors. Her story can be your story as you trust God for his abundant provision in your life.