Trusting God in hard and painful times – 2 Kings 4:1-7 

God’s word to us helps us see, though living in a different time, pain and struggle is not new. 2 Kings 4:1-7 is about real people, a story where a father has died and left his family – mum and two sons – in debt. And as a consequence of that debt, if it cannot be repaid, the sons will become slaves. What does she do? How is faith enacted in her circumstances? How did Elisha “minister” in this situation? How does God provide?

This passage demonstrates that God is not dismissive of, nor aloof from us in hard and painful times, and as Christ-followers, this is when God-perspective is essential. This means our depth of faith, trust and dependence on God and his word determine how we live through hard and painful times. When we know him, we know, his grace is sufficient for us. ONLY through hope in him can any of us navigate our way through hard seasons.

You might ask what has this to do with the miracle of God’s provision through Elisha of oil. Surely the story is about that? Yes, it is. But it is the means to an end, not the end itself.

Miracles are the result of faith. Faith puts trust in God. Our trust is in God himself, not in his miracles, and in learning to trust God and have a depth of Christian faith we are able to navigate our way through hard and difficult times and help others in hard and painful times.

What the widow was initially unable to see (nothing, but a little oil), in faith, Elisha saw possibilities. Again, so much of this story is about having a God-perspective. Seeing things as God might see them with a godly attitude. Kingdom thinking. When Elisha asked the widow “What do you have in your house?” he was asking, “What do you have and see that can turn your circumstances around?”

God, is not just a good-times God, God is a for all times and in all things. If there’s one essential aspect of our discipleship we must constantly grow in, it’s this: hard and painful times are opportunities to press into God. Do we know who we have and what we have in God? What is God’s response to, “I have nothing but a little oil”? What God can do in you and for you exceeds what you can see.

This story shows that God can use all sorts of people and resources at his disposal for his purposes and for his glory. But like the widow, we often get so caught up in what we don’t have that we overlook the possibilities of what he’s already given us. We can all be part of his miraculous!

With the help of her community, jars were collected and the miracle was completed. God showcased his power of providence through the prophet to the family. The lesson: that he can be trusted. The purpose: that he might be glorified.

The perfect, holy, sinless son of God, Jesus, suffered death on the cross so that in our hard times and suffering we can experience his grace. Blood-bought grace. Sin-overcoming grace. Trusting-God-in-hard times grace. Grace which is sufficient for every one of us no matter how hard the situation we will face. That’s a miracle!