Who Are You When You Pray?: 2. The Widow

Here we see the widow not only doubt Elijah about the bread but also doubt over her son. It seems to me, that she was in a situation with food where she had virtually nothing and when her son died, again she was left with nothing. Yet here we can see Elijah as God’s voice over the widows life and he does not forsake her but persists upon her obedience and trust.

Sometimes in prayer we can come to God with nothing – therefore we have nothing to loose and only everything to gain. This, though often a very broken time where we wonder where God can be, can also be a time of sweet prayers as our trust has nothing to loose and our faith is heightened as we begin to see God move. Although the widow was reluctant, angry and doubtful she obeyed Elijah’s requests and fed him, opened her home to him and gave her dead son into his arms. Though she feared and doubted she still had faith enough of a mustard seed that moved the mountains in her life, (Matthew 17: 20.) In verse 24 she says “Now by this I know…” she was never sure but faith and hope kept her going. If you feel like the widow be of good cheer because God never forsook her but provided for all her needs.

Sara Hesbrook

2003-05-06