During times of suffering, it is essential to remember that God is always near and present in our lives. In moments of pain and hardship, He is with us, offering comfort and strength, even when we may not immediately realize it. Our faith is meant to be tested. Suffering enables us to lean on God and trust in His divine plan. Believers must remember that faith is more than just a feeling; it is a conscious decision to trust God in every circumstance.
Believers need to maintain their faith and trust in God during suffering. By relying on God’s presence and guidance, we can persevere through challenging experiences and emerge stronger in our faith. Remember the words of 1 Peter 5:10, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” God is KIND (EVEN IN SUFFERING).
Outline
Application
Are you turning away from God or turning to God in faith?
Is prayer a regular practice of faith in your life?
Have you been raised to eternal life by Jesus Christ?
Questions
The widow of the prophet underwent a challenging period in her life and sought assistance from the prophet Elisha, being left without any support from her husband. Who is your go-to person during a crisis?
In the earlier narrative, the prophet was employed by God to attend to a destitute woman. Subsequently, with the prophet’s help, God assisted a wealthy woman. God does not show preferential treatment. Do you love all people equally, or do you favor the poor (or the rich)?
Although the wealthy woman of Shunem appeared to have everything she needed, she refrained from asking for a son due to past unanswered prayers. However, her reaction to Elisha’s proclamation indicated her intense longing and apprehension of being let down. Despite our reluctance in acknowledging them, God is aware of our necessities. How do you attain satisfaction when an innermost yearning remains unanswered?
The woman’s son died, but her faith in the Lord did not die. Her faith persisted and asserted itself even in the face of death. Her hopes and expectations for this promised child compelled her to believe that God would not abandon the child to death. The son given to the Virgin Mary also died in spite of the hopes and expectations of many. They had expected a king, and then they had a crucified corpse. How often in the Bible God’s greater plans are revealed when he shatters the expectations of his people? Have you seen God grant your hopes and desires, only to watch them wither and die? Have you been able to see his better plan for your life?
Despite her son’s death, the woman held onto her faith in the Lord, even in the face of despair. She trusted in the promise of a miraculous child and believed that God would not forsake him. However, the unexpected death of the son of the Virgin Mary shattered the hopes and expectations of many who were anticipating a king. Throughout the Bible, God often reveals his greater plans by shattering the expectations of his people. Have you ever experienced disappointment when your hopes and aspirations were unfulfilled? Have you been able to see his better plan for your life?