I’ve read through more of The Last Arrow by Erwin McManus.

In the part I recently read, he was talking about the prophet Elijah and the widow whose husband had died. She needed money to pay her debts and had nothing but a little oil. So, Elijah tells her to go and get as many empty jars as she can from her neighbors.

Let me share the part I read and then I’ll share with you what I wrote in my journal.

From chapter 9: “He (Elijah) never actually tells the woman what God is going to do; he tells her only what she needs to do. And, although she feels she has nothing to offer, he reveals to her that even the little she has entrusted to God will create a future she could never imagine. Our needs are God’s opportunity to reveal his generosity and goodness toward us.”

Wow — that last sentence hit me a lot. Am I bringing my needs to God to even give Him the opportunity to reveal His generosity and goodness toward me? And, I don’t think so. That makes me so sad.

Have I remained crippled in my sadness, in my disappointments, or in my struggles just because I’m afraid to approach my Father?

Am I afraid He’ll get mad at my struggles, my fumbles, my stupidity?

Oh, my. He so longs for a relationship with me. I continue to hide in my insignificance and in what I don’t have to offer. I get lost in what I don`t have in my resources or circumstances. I forget to get lost in His arms and in His strength.

So, what do I want?

What needs do I have in my life?

Well, I’m not going to give you my list here, but these were the questions I asked myself during this introspection time for me.

What about you? Allow this to be a time of introspection for you, too. What do you want? What do you need? Have you remained crippled in your emotions or circumstances? Are your expectations of life set at “less than” so you don’t have to feel disappointments?

This is what hit me during this reading: this widow could have become crippled by the death of her husband while grieving about how to pay her debt. Instead, she sought out the godly prophet Elijah. She only had a little oil, but she was willing to do anything (no matter how silly it seemed to anyone) since that is what was asked of her. God gave her what she needed.

Where are you struggling in life with knowing what you want or need? Can I challenge you to dream big and ask God no matter how desperate you feel. We are all desperate in our lives if God is not in our lives.

Make your list. Know your wants and needs. Bring them before God. Act on what God asks of you. Watch God move!

© 2018 Susan M. Sims

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