“It’s not the situation, but whether we react (negative) or respond (positive) to the situation that’s important.” Zig Ziglar

Do you ever feel like there’s little or nothing left at the end of the month? You’re not alone. Often a circumstance can genuinely appear there is nothing a person can do; life can seem unfair. Can you relate?

Allow me to tell you a story. Imagine a recent widow with a sizable debt and no way to pay it. In fact, in her country debt would enslave her sons to her creditor. What to do? Rushing in desperation, she runs to a wise and godly man, Elisha, for advice.

There’s a decent chance you’ve heard this story. It’s straight from the Old Testament in 2 Kings chapter 4. Upon her arrival, he does not shame her, but immediately asks what she has at home. She is about to lose her two sons to slavery. How could she possess anything that would pay her debt? Surely, it would have occurred to her if it were possible. She humbly responds to Elisha, “I have nothing but a jar of oil.”

Isn’t it ironic that this would even be significant in a time of need?

Elisha tells her to go borrow empty containers and to get plenty of them. An immediate run to all the neighbors for empty jars is the solution? She does exactly what she’s told, no matter how crazy it may seem. She is desperate, otherwise hopeless, and full of faith all at once. Shutting her door as instructed, this determined and faith-filled woman pours from her jar of oil until every borrowed vessel is full. The oil did not run out until she ran out of jars. Overcome with gratitude for God’s provision, she sells it all, pays her debt, and they live on the rest.

Her fear was overcome. There was enough to live on and her sons remained with her.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Yes, God wants us to come boldly to His throne and He promises grace and mercy in our time of need.

But is He asking for something we already have as an act of faith and obedience?

Do we sometimes feel there is nothing to meet the need or begin to pay off debt? Could it be that actually we have a teeny tiny something, however small it might be? Might there be more that can be trimmed from our budget than we realize?  Eating out for lunch, coffee on the run, tv services, the list goes on of possibilities we might not have considered. Maybe that little extra is something you’ve completely forgotten about that can be sold, a service that gets cut or even getting a part-time job; ask God to show you.

He wants us to stretch our faith as we put out our little something and attach extravagant faith.

You might feel you have nothing, but He wants to amaze you. He loves you. He cares for you. You are not forgotten. Carry no shame, but run boldly to the Father (Hebrews 4:16). Take that something that seems like nothing, give it to God. Invite Him into your process (see our previous Money Machine blog post for more on this) and give Him what seems like nothing. Maybe you feel like you have nothing BUT a little, and that is just what He is waiting on to meet your need.

We’d love to hear your comments and celebrate with you as you make this journey! If you enjoyed this post you can also find more practical and Biblically-based truths in our book, Doing Money God’s Way and Doing Money God’s Way Workbook, available on Amazon.com. You’ll also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

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