Things Change. God Doesn't.

Before I was laid off, oh, a good two weeks before, I was thinking about the passage in James 5 which speaks of Elijah's faith and fervent prayer. This led me to study his life once again, just trying to learn of his character and relationship with God. I stayed in I Kings 42 for a good while, meditating, learning and writing.

God spoke strongly to me about His care of Elijah and of His limitless ability to meet needs. Though I knew this story well, I was particularly stricken with the amazing truth that He "commanded" the ravens to feed Elijah. God, who first of all, directed Elijah to a brook in a land where there was no rain, could have fed Elijah in many more conventional ways but He chose to do it in a way that would cross over into the truth of His unlimited resources. It touched me deeply to imagine how that must have looked...ravens bringing meat and bread to the prophet, hiding from the King. The lesson was clear--God would take care of me.

But then, I was interested to see that "the brook dried up." But God has immediate plans for the care of His servant. He points him in a different direction and informs him that He has commanded a widow woman to take over in the meeting of Elijah's needs. God had total command over the whole of the universe to supply needs. There was great comfort in that reminder. This was on a good day with no trouble yet in sight.

"Ah!" I thought. "Things change." The brook and the ravens ceased to be Elijah's providers, but God had the next phase all set. I wonder if Elijah noticed that the water in the brook had slowed to a trickle and wondered what would happen to him. Somehow I can't help but think that he did not. Shortly before, he had stood before King Ahab and said, "As the Lord, the God Israel lives, before whom I stand...." God and Elijah were not strangers to each other. I think he knew that he would be taken care of.

You know, that short 8 or 10 verses did much to prepare me for the Tuesday a couple of weeks away when I would be informed that I, along with 55 others, were being let go from the job. Immediately, I envisioned the ravens bringing food to the prophet and remembered the dried-up brook...and the very poor widow that would be in charge of Elijah's physical well being for a good while. There was complete peace and comfort in my heart as my boss spent time with me going over the details of my layoff.

I have no idea what lies ahead. Lots of different scenarios trickle through my brain, but I know that my Heavenly Father will not be changing His way of doing things. I know that "my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

My situation has changed considerably. God, not one speck!