Listen to this devotion
The Widow of Zarephath — Nothing Left but Trust
Her Story: 1 Kings 17:1–24
In the Word
Then the word of the Lord came to him [Elijah], “Arise, go to Zarephath … I have commanded a widow there to feed you” (1 Kings 17:8a; 9b).
Of the Word
Because of a drought, a widow’s flour and oil were nearly gone. She would bake a bit of bread then she and her son would lie down to die. Enter the prophet Elijah who asks for some bread and water. Explaining her situation to Elijah, he tells the widow not to be afraid. Miraculously, the flour and oil lasted for days.
This story has yet another miracle. The widow’s son dies of an illness and even Elijah doesn’t understand why God let the child die. He fervently prays for life to be returned to him. Miraculously it was! This woman, led to despair, thought circumstances couldn’t get any worse, and yet they did. And we cry, “Lord, I, too have been there.”
God doesn’t want us dangling at the end of a rope. He wants to be our strength. Just as He told the widow not to be afraid, our Father gives us that same assurance. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Walking with my Lord
Lord, when life is difficult help me freely surrender my troubles to You. Then help me trust in Your promise to always be with me. I pray in Your Almighty name. Amen.
Mustard Seed: Daughters of the King. Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 16/34 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
