Get Your Hopes UpSample

DAY 2: KEEP ON POURING

Maybe you’re starting a new year wishing you had more. More time. More friends. More money. Your hopes aren’t high because you don’t feel like you have enough of something you need or want. But we serve a God who can do a lot, even when we feel we only have a little to give.

For the woman in 1 Kings 17, having a little was the foundation for her miracle. She was at the end of her rope; both her food and hope were running on empty. When the prophet Elijah approached her and asked for bread and water, she was gathering sticks for her and her son’s final meal before they starved.

Elijah asked her to use what little flour and oil she had left to make him some bread. He also told her to make food for herself and her son, and promised the flour and oil wouldn’t run out until God ended the drought they were in.

She must’ve thought Elijah was crazy, but she did what he asked. She used her last bit of flour and oil and… It didn’t run out. She was able to pour and keep on pouring to feed Elijah and her family until the drought ended.

Imagine what it took to give up those ingredients. The handful of flour and small bit of oil were all she had.

When we feel like we have nothing, it’s hard to pour out what little we have left. Why should we volunteer at church when we barely have enough energy to get through the school day? How can we encourage a friend through hard times when we’re struggling too?

But as much as it can overwhelm or scare us, having less is an opportunity for God to give us immeasurably more. The woman poured in faith when it didn’t make sense, and God enabled her to keep pouring. When we bring Him what we have, no matter how small it seems, we can expect Him to do the same for us.

What are some areas of your life you feel are lacking? It might be hard, but keep pouring from that place, and start building hope and expectation today that God will do immeasurably more through you this year.