Make Room for God to Work

The enormity of the situation consumed my mind. The shadow it cast extinguished all light.  I lay on the bed engulfed by complete darkness. In the quiet, I realized it was time to make room for God to work.

My teenaged son had just called in the middle of the night, he needed help. His car was nearly out of gas, and the gas station was closed. The pumps did not take debit cards. He asked me to drive to Connecticut to help.

But he had forgotten, instead of 60 miles away, I was 1,600 miles away – with his younger brother. I could not rescue him.

2 Kings 4:1-7 gives us a model of what to do in a situation that defies our physical resources. The unnamed widow’s situation, described in the verses, was much more serious than mine.

Here’s a quick summary to get us started. The woman in the story is the widow of a man who was in the company of the prophets. She called to Elisha, a man of God because a creditor was coming to take her sons as slaves to pay the debt of her husband.

Start to Make Room for God to Work by Calling Out

In this case, the widow called to Elisha, who she knew was a man of God. She explained her situation.

In mine, I prayed. Even though God already knew the situation, I laid out the details to Him.

Calling out acknowledges the problem is beyond our control. An excellent place to start to make room for God to work.

Elisha heard the widow. And I know God heard me.

Listen and be Prepared to Bring What You Have

Elisha asked her how he could help. He quickly followed by asking her what she had in the house.

She responded, “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 2 Kings 4:2b. Her resources were meager, she did not even think they were worth mentioning.

And yet, Elisha, a man of God, had a plan to use what little she had.

 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.” 2 Kings 4:3 (NIV). I think it’s interesting that he added not to ask for a few.

There would be no lack of jars to influence God’s work.

Sometimes, I limit God in my thinking. Do you ever do that too?

The rest of Elisha’s instructions are in verse 4. She should go into the house with her sons and close the door. Then she should pour the oil into the jars until it runs out.

I had my faith and a quiet environment. God prompted me to pray and to tell my son to join me.

Believe and Obey to Make Room for God to Work

This account of the widow’s story does not tell us what she thought. I wonder if she questioned if Elisha’s plan would work.

Do you think that Elisha told her to close the door so the neighbors wouldn’t distract her with their doubts? We don’t know.  

What we do know is that she obeyed. Without regard to logic, she poured oil filling each jar that her sons brought her. Until she said bring me another and the son told her there were no more.

And then the oil stopped flowing.

In my case, I believed that God, who controls everything, would answer our prayers. I did not let logic based on prior experience (like gas stations would be closed at that time of night, once you are off the interstate it is easy to get lost on the dark side roads or be in an accident) influence my belief.

And like the widow, I did not have anyone saying this was an impossible situation.

And so, I prayed. Calmness and light overcame the enormity of the problem.

And I kept praying until Andrew found an open gas station.

God’s Work Results in Abundant Provision

The widow went to Elisha and told him what happened. He told her (Verse 7) to go and sell the oil and use some of the money to pay the debtors. She was to use the rest for their future support.  

God had used her meager resources in a miracle to not only meet the problem she had defined, but also her future needs.

In my story, God provided a full tank of gas and a safe return trip for my son. And our faith grew by seeing such a quick answer to a problem that defied logic.

Stepping Aside for God to Work

Stopping my activity, I just have to listen and do the part He has for me. And when I do, He is faithful to provide. 😊

I use these stories as a reminder. Often my first response to an enormous problem is to try to find creative solutions – on my own. My mind, (and sometimes the rest of me too) are working overtime.

And sometimes, I become overwhelmed by the size of the problem or the scarcity of my resources.

But in both cases, I am so focused on myself and the problem, I am unable to hear God.

I need to step aside and make room for God to work.

You can read more about God’s abundant provision here.

What situation could you change your approach to allow God to work?