She was rich, the Bible says. She would give the prophet Elisha a meal and a room to stay in whenever he was in town because she knew he was a holy man of God. It was her way to honor him and the Lord. 

When her son fell ill and died, she didn’t lay the boy on his bed as was the custom for mourning visitations before burial. She didn’t mourn at all. She laid him on Elisha’s guest bed and shut the door.

Why is that important? You see, she had been barren. Elisha prophesied God would give her a son in thanksgiving for her hospitality. When that same son later collapsed in her arms, she sought out Elisha because she believed God keeps his promises. Elisha saw her tenacious faith and revived her son.

The story tells me that when something awful happens to me, my response is to trust and pray. Shut the door on my problem and seek the Lord instead of wallowing in my sorrow or fear or hurt. God may not do exactly as I ask, as Elisha did for the tenacious woman, but he will do what is best in my situation. 

That’s a promise I, and you, can count on. 

Precious Lord, you promise to love us, bless us, and guide us if we accept you as our Lord and Savior. Let me embrace that promise no matter what life doles out. When trouble comes, let me shut the door and seek you for answers. Help me turn my focus onto you instead of concentrating on my problems. Amen.

Throughout This Day: Monitor your response to any situations you face. Do you seek Jesus’ help first?



Tags: Daily Devotional 2 Kings 4
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