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A holy imagination
In 2 Kings, we meet a widow in dire straits. Her husband has died; she has debts she can’t pay; and her sons are on the brink of being sold into slavery. If ever somebody needed God’s help, it's this widow.
Her mind is undoubtedly racing with all the obstacles her family faces, listing her possible choices, calculating her odds, and playing them out to their logical conclusion. In desperation, she asks the prophet Elisha for support. But rather than removing her problem by giving her money, Elisha responds: Tell me, what do you have in your house?
The urgency mounting, the widow barely thinks to mention what she does have: a single jar of oil. But it’s through this very jar of oil that God chooses to work. Elisha tells her to ask all her neighbors for empty jars and then to fill each one with oil from her jar. In faith, she does exactly as he says—and the oil lasts until every jar is filled, allowing her to pay her debts and live on the surplus.
In our moments of desperation, it's easy to overlook the resources at our disposal, focusing instead on the magnitude of the problem or the way we’d prefer to solve it (which typically requires the least amount of effort from us). Like the widow, we often lack a holy imagination that enables us to look beyond the apparent meagerness of what we have. A jar is just a jar until it’s met with God’s power. Likewise, our gifts and resources may seem insignificant until we remember God’s astounding might.
In this reading plan, we'll look at several people who, like this widow, faced seemingly impossible circumstances, only to discover that God had already provided the resources to overcome them. We'll see how He has equipped each of us with gifts—relationships, experiences, money, skills, unique perspectives—to use for His glory. As we begin this conversation, we invite you to watch the video below.
Reflection: Think of a challenge or need you’re facing, or a dream you hold dear but feels out of reach. Ask God to show you what He’s placed in your hands. What unique gifts, opportunities, and resources has He given you to overcome the obstacle you’re facing? To serve the community around you?
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When we approach God with our dreams and desires, we often focus on what we don’t have. We tell Him we could do more if He’d give us more skills or resources. We compare what we’ve been given to the gifts of others. And often, our patient Father responds with an unexpected question: What’s in your hands?
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