Someone Just Like Us

When we look at the life of Elijah, it can be difficult to relate to a guy like that. He called down fire from Heaven. He stopped the rain. He raised someone from the dead. We may think, “I could never have that kind of faith.”

James 5:17 tells us that “Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!” (NLT). God directed him to walk into King Ahab’s court and decree there would not be rain in the land except according to his word.

Then God sent him to a widow who was poor. When Elijah showed up, she gave him a place to stay. She didn’t have that much food—just enough for her and her son. But Elijah told her, in effect, “Just go ahead and see what God does.” Every day there was always enough for her, her son, and the prophet. This reminds us that when we give to the Lord, He gives back to us as well.

But one day her son got sick. Then he got worse. And then he died. Her life as she knew it had ended. She not only had lost her husband, but she also had lost her son. She accused Elijah, saying, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sin and kill my son?” (1 Kings 17:18 NLT).

Elijah didn’t rebuke her. He just took the limp body of her dead son, prayed for him, and raised him up.

World changers apply their faith, and they pray. God always will give us what we need when we need it—not necessarily before, but never after.