II Kings 4:8-37, Hebrews 10: 38-39

Kunle Olabode

I am going to share with you what happened to me not long ago - I made a certain application expecting nothing other than a positive result as all the requirements for this application had been met. After a few weeks, the result came...and behold, the result was negative! I broke down in tears as I couldn't believe what had happened to me. It was like the whole world was crashing on me, and thousands of thoughts began to roll into my heart. I began to ask myself, what have I done wrong? I started to sweat profusely, and to shake like a leaf. Then, suddenly, in that agonising moment, I remembered the word of God: "In everything give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Then I said. "Thank you Jesus", and afterwards I prayed and asked that the will of God be done. But in all honesty, I felt disappointed and defeated.

That evening, I was just driving on the motorway, then a thought said to me "Don't give up, it's not over". Then I began to confess the word of God, I began to remind myself of His promises: how He loves me, how He sent Jesus Christ to die for me, and so on; from that hour, I felt lifted, I felt I was on top of the situation and I said to myself, don't give up, I am able to overcome again. And indeed, I overcame - to God be glory and honour.

In II kings 4:8-37, the Bible speaks of a 'notable woman' who lived in a city called Shunem. God gave her a son when she couldn't have one. Then, unfortunately the boy died in his twenties. The woman of Shunem picked the boy up and laid him on Elisha's bed and then went and brought Elisha to the boy, who then raised him from the dead. God had previously used Elisha to announce his birth in the first place. Imagine what her neighbours must have thought as she passed by. "It's over, bury him!" But that was not for her. She refused to stop and get the opinions of faithless people, or discuss her situation with those who were unqualified to help; she refused to believe their report, preferring instead, to believe the report of the Lord.

Be careful who you open up to in a crisis! Make sure they know God and that their words line up with the word of God. Otherwise, you may end up in square one (at the starting point). The warranty has not expired on the promises God gave you. This woman believed that if God started it, He could finish it. If God made it, He could fix it. She refused to give up. As she carried her dead boy to the man of God, I can hear singing along the way - "It is well, it is well, with my soul". She resolved not to give up, despite humiliation and opposition. She focused on what God has said - It is well!

And how does her story end? Elisha stretched his body out on top of the dead boy's body and his corpse gets warm. Now that's good, but the lad needed more than just warmth - he needed a new life. So Elisha stretched out on top of him again. This time the boy sneezed seven times and came to life again. What's the lesson here for us? No matter how bad things look - we should learn to stay on top! Keep believing God. Walk the floor and pray all night if you have to, but don't give up. Keep standing on the Word of God. Your dream may not be fully alive yet, but it's getting warm. Things are improving. God is moving. Your answer is on the way, don't give up until it arrives - it is well with you. Shalom.