Have you ever asked yourself,
“Will I ever be good enough?”
Which lead to…
“God couldn’t possibly use me.
I don’t have enough…”
time?
talent?
experience?
energy?
money?
…and the list goes on spiraling in our heads…
We ALL face moments where we don’t feel like we are enough for God to use us.
Feeling inadequate or defeated.
Just don’t have enough in us to make a difference.
Doubt creeps in.
And it becomes easier to isolate ourselves. (Watch: “The Dangers of Isolation”)
And yet, over and over in the Bible, we see stories where God used the little someone had to show his unlimited power.
We forget to remember:
God doesn’t need your abundance. He asks for your obedience and surrender and to trust in Him through it.
Here’s a story in the Bible where you might be surprised with how it ends…
Contents
The Widow’s Desperation
Theme scripture:
“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied,
“I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar
and a little olive oil in a jug.
I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son,
that we may eat it—and die.“
Can you imagine this single mother’s desperation?
She was collecting firewood to prepare the last meal for her and her son.
God had told her to give… but she took inventory of what she had and she determined she did not have enough.
Elijah’s Counter-Intuitive Command
Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said.
But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have
and bring it to me,
and then make something for yourself and your son.”
Any normal person would have said, “Oh, I’m so sorry! Don’t worry about me—feed your son first!”
But Elijah said something that sounds almost heartless:
“Make me bread first, then feed your family.”
The Promise
This is what God says,
“For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:
‘The jar of flour will not be used up
and the jug of oil will not run dry
until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.”
Elijah knew something we often forget:
God’s way doesn’t make sense to our natural thinking.
He wasn’t being selfish—he was giving her the opportunity to trust… obey… and see God’s miracle.
The Choice and the Miracle
What did the Widow do?
She went away and did as Elijah had told her.
So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.
For the jar of flour was not used up
and the jug of oil did not run dry,
in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.
When Elijah said “Make me bread first, then feed your family,” she had a choice.
Trust her fear… or trust God’s promise.
She chose to trust God.
And guess what? That little bit of flour and oil never ran out.
Every. Single. Day. There was enough.
What We Can Learn
God doesn’t ask us to give from what we have.
He asks us to give because we trust Him.
Ask Yourself: What is Holding you Back?
This scripture caught my attention because I find myself thinking and saying that same thing…
“I don’t have enough time” to be involved
“I don’t have enough talent” to serve
“I don’t know enough” to teach
“I don’t have enough energy” to keep going
“I don’t have enough money” to give generously
What it Leads To
- Not prioritizing the God and the church
- Prioritizing comfort
- giving in to fear and insecurities
- Mismanagement and self-indulgence
As disciples of Jesus, he has commanded us to partner with him to build his church and spread the Gospel. He promises to be with us always.
What is God Asking me to Give Today?
- If you lack time
Matthew 6:33
Seek first his kingdom and all these things will be given to you as well - If you lack talent
Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength - If you lack knowledge
James 1:5
You should ask God, who gives generously - If you lack I energy
Matthew 11:28-29
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest - “I don’t have enough money
Malachi 3:10
Bring the whole tithe ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it
I don’t want to minimize anyone’s experience.
Chances are that some of us are going through a difficult time.
Remember this widow.
The truth is:
We are “not enough” but in God’s hands, less becomes more than enough.
God has a purpose for you! Find out more: Watch “Made for a Glorious Purpose”
