When You Feel Completely Empty (2 Kings 4:7)
By: Anne Peterson
She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt. Then you and your sons can live on the remainder.” – 2 Kings 4:7
I’ll always remember the story of the widow who cried out to Elisha for help. Her husband who had loved the Lord was gone and creditors were coming to take what she had left, her two sons. When Elisha said to her, “How can I help you? His next words to her where important.
He asked her, “What do you have in the house?”
The widow could have responded, I have nothing left. I’m sure she felt like it. Totally empty. But she remembered she had a small pot of oil. Elisha told her to go to all her neighbors and ask them for empty jars. As many as they had, not just a few. And he told her to pour oil into all the jars from the pot, and as each jar was filled, to put it aside.
The woman did as Elisha instructed. And one by one she filled each jar. She asked for another jar and her son told her it was the last one and at that moment the oil stopped flowing.
Elisha told her to sell the oil to pay her debts and live off of what remained ( 2 Kings 4:1-7). I’ve always wondered about what would have happened if she brought less jars?
We have a God who has promised He would provide for our needs. One of God’s names is Jehovah Jireh which means the Lord will provide, not the Lord might provide.
The widow did exactly the right thing. She was in need and she called on the Lord. Had she kept this need to herself, she would have missed out on one of the miracles God had in store for her. And it was a miracle that was for us as well.
We are finite beings. We hurt and suffer because we live in this fallen world. As this widow obeyed the Elisha, she saw God’s hand. And as the jars were filled, she witnessed that Gods ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).
When we feel empty, we need to remember God can fill us up. And God never does things halfway. He fills us completely. What are your needs today? Have the circumstances of your life left you feeling spent, and empty? Then call out to God. The one who never grows tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28).
God knows how we are frail and that we get weary. Trust him, and he will answer your weary heart, maybe like this:
My child, I see you’re weary
as you move from day to day.
You try to comprehend my thoughts
and understand my ways.
Just trust that I am faithful,
that I will be your strength,
regardless of how hard your trial,
regardless of its length.
- Anne Peterson
Anne Peterson is a regular contributor to Crosswalk. Anne is a poet, speaker, published author of 16 books, including her latest book, Always There:Finding God's Comfort Through Loss. Anne has also written and published books entitled He Whispers: Poetic talks with God. Sign up for anne’s newsletter at www.annepeterson.com and receive a free eBook by clicking the tab. Or you can connect with her on Facebook.
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