I've been on a trust journey for a while now. Well, if I'm honest, pretty much my whole life. Just when I think I've checked off the trust box... something happens that tells me I'm not there yet. Ha! So bear with me if it's all you hear flow from my cold dead fingers. Just kidding about the cold dead fingers part. I've always wanted to use that saying but can never find the appropriate situation. So there ya go.
Back to the trust topic. I guess I just need constant reminders. And Holy Spirit's reassuring pat on the back as we navigate through uncertainty and the unknown of what our future looks like as a family. In addition to that, it feels like this fostering journey we're on is the most I have had my trust tested. Especially with the loss and the possibility of loss we face every time.
So I love when I come across a story that exemplifies extreme trust. I stumbled upon this story that was, once again, inspiring and raised my trust barometer. It's the story of the widow's oil found in 2 Kings chapter 4.
4 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”
2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.”
The widow had faith enough to gather as many vessels as she could to pour her tiny amount of oil. Any rational person would have responded with something like, "Ummm... that is impossible. How will my tiny amount of oil magically produce more oil?" Instead, she trusted the prophet enough to know that it would happen.
Like me, maybe you are trusting for an impossibility. Maybe trusting for your miracle feels silly or at times, after waiting a long while, even a chore. Maybe you have felt helpless as you prayed that same prayer 857 times. His answer remains the same though... Trust.
You have a wayward child that seems hardened to this life and maybe even to you? Trust.
You feel like you're spinning your wheels but are getting no where? Trust.
You're waiting on your miracle baby? Trust.
Your bills are barely getting paid while doing all the 'right' things? Trust.
There's a strain on a relationship that makes you feel weary and like giving up? Trust.
Lean in. Trust. Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). There is light. You will get through it, look back one day and say... I remember when _________. Here's the thing. Do we want our story to be filled with anxious, heavy days? Or would you rather be so full of Him and the peace He has to offer? Of course I am talking to myself here. Reminding myself in this very moment to lean in. Even if the oil seems low, there will be a day of overflow. Because more oil is on the way!
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