“Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”
2 Kings 6:33 NIV
I recognized the disappointment in the king’s question. I’ve been there, too—those times of questioning God’s promises to never leave me and to provide for His very own. The passage continued.
Desperate times were at hand. The Arameans besieged the Israelites, keeping anyone from entering or leaving Samaria. The food supply dwindled. Morale ran out. Hope dissipated.
What do you do when hope dies?
Elisha kept his eyes on the Lord.
Enemies were routed. Chariots of fire were summoned. Israel treated their enemies to a feast and plundered their camp. The word of Elisha rang true. God had a proven track record with the Israelites and He has proven history with you. Maybe He protected you at a stoplight or from a wrong choice at a job interview. Maybe He provided a helping hand from a stranger or a meal from an empty pantry. The Lord is watching over you.
Exercise:
Read 2 Kings 6:8-23.
List ways Elisha helped the king of Israel.
List ways God helped Elisha.
List ways God has given you aid through other people.
List ways God has used you as a tool to help others.
How do you need the Lord to open your eyes to His perspective on your circumstances?
Read 2 Kings 6:24-33.
People do desperate things when they are in desperate situations.
When have you seen someone do something out of desperation?
How does knowing their story help you extend grace to them?
When have you wanted to give up on God?
How do you need the Lord to intervene for you right now?
Read 2 Kings 7:1-20.
How did God show up for the Israelites?
How did the king’s question from 6:33 get answered?
How would you answer if someone asked you, “Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”
If life feels hopeless, hang on, dear one. You have not reached the end of the chapter yet and God has something for you in the days, months, and year ahead. Trust Him to provide what you need and to reveal His presence when you need it most.
“This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.”
Habakkuk 2:3 MSG
Will you wait for the Lord?
Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.
Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad. Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net
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