How Many Jars?

While I’m always encouraging each of us to dress in faith everyday here on the blog, I would be lying if I didn’t say that sometimes that’s easier said than done. All of us have had seasons where we struggled and our actions have been less than reflective of having faith in God.

In the story of the poor widow who had many debts found at the beginning of 2 Kings chapter 4, the widow was at the point of selling her own sons as payment. So, she cried out to the prophet Elisha for help. Elisha asked what she did have, and it was only a little oil. Elisha told her to gather “not just a few” empty jars from her neighbors and to fill each one with oil from the small amount she already had. The widow then gathers many jars, until no more could be found, and completely filled each one from that tiny amount of oil. She ended up having enough jars of oil to sell to pay off her debts plus take care of her living expenses. 

To her credit, the “many jars” she chose to gather reflected her great faith in God’s provision for her.

As I think about that story, I wonder how many jars I would gather? I would like to think as many as the widow did. Yet, there have been times when I’ve been so focused on the impossibility of a situation that I let it get in the way of my faith. I’ve doubted God’s willingness to get involved and have only been half-heartedly obedient or not obedient at all.

I’ve been asked to serve in a ministry or mission where the effort asked just didn’t seem worth the unlikely outcome I expected. Like anyone, I’ve had problems, physical difficulties, and strained relationships that just seemed unlikely to change. Efforts to pray have ceased and resolutions feel nonexistent.

It’s easy to believe or have faith when earthly resources are present, and obstacles are few. But God doesn’t call us to have faith just when it’s easy or we decide our effort will have a fruitful outcome. He doesn’t call us to just do something that only we think makes sense. He calls us to be obedient and to have great faith in every situation, even when it looks unachievable.

I pray in my present situations where I see impossible outcomes that God will renew my faith and direct my focus on Him. I want to follow in obedience and gather many jars. Then, watch Him do the unimaginable!