God's power often manifests most mightily upon a path that is paved with questioning, struggle and brokenness.
I have found this to be true in my own life. It has taken the times of extreme financial need for me to recognize the miracle of God's provision. Through broken relationship and loss I have witnessed first hand God's power to bring about reconciliation and healing. I could not have seen the power God has to physically heal had there not been extreme sickness. Nor would I my faith have deepened in the knowledge that God is all I need had I not been through periods where I had nothing else to which I could cling.
In the time of Elijah, both the prophet himself and the nation of Israel as a whole were in constant need of God's mighty power to deliver them from some very hard times. The evil King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, a literal witch, had murdered those who spoke up on behalf of God and led the nation into such a state of sin that God had shut up the heavens from raining for three whole years. I Kings chapters 17, 18 and 19 are marked by many details of desperation, such as: drought, hiding, starvation, death, crying, murder, fear, intimidation, fleeing, fear and desperation.
Right within these very chapters God sent deliverance from each issues in powerful, miraculous ways:
-God delivered Elijah from hunger by sending birds, and later an angel, to feed him. He used Elijah to deliver a widow and her sun from starvation by causing a handful of flour and oil to last three years.
-God miraculously delivered the widow's only son from death by using Elijah to bring him back to life.
-God sent the the faithful servant Obadiah, the king's own trusted advisor, to deliver certain prophets from the hands of Jezebel.
-God delivered Israel from the intimidation from idolatry when by sending fire from Heaven at Mount Carmel.
-God sent rain from heaven at just the right time to deliver people from the drought.
-God delivered Elijah from fear and despair by showing God's power through an earthquake and fire, and then speaking in a whisper.
As is often the case, God's miracles came and mightily delivered over and over again, precisely at the point of need.
As II Corinthians 12:9 puts it:
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Christ's work on the cross enabled our "once and for all" deliverance from the power of sin and death. That same work can deliver us every day of our lives, as we seek God's peace and victory within the trials of normal living.
What is your point of need today? Do you trust God to deliver and supply?
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