Gather Your Sticks
Everyone at some point or another is going to experience uncertainty. And if you haven't realized yet, life doesn't hit the pause button when uncertainty strikes. It could be a desperate situation that you see no possible way out of, or just not knowing what step to take next.
What are you supposed to do in that situation? What do you do when you don't know what to do?
I was reading the story of Elijah and the widow. If you haven't had a chance to read it, I highly recommend you check it out in 1 Kings 17! The focus is almost always on the hand full of flour and the little bit of oil she had left, but this time I saw something within the story that I had never seen before... First, it says,
"... When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks..." 1 Kings 17:10
That made me ask the questions:
- Why did it matter what she was doing?
- What was she gathering sticks for?
I read on and see that after Elijah asks for a piece of bread and the widow says she only has a little flour and oil left, she says...
"I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it - and die." 1 Kings 17:12
This widow was seemingly out of options. She was fixing to prepare her last meal when Elijah arrived. What was left for her to do? That's when it hit me... She wasn't sitting around waiting for a move of God or some audible voice telling her what to do. And I've found myself at times doing just that, asking God to step in and show me the way. More often times begging Him to answer prayers and not seeing anything come of it. This widow could have easily given up and let her circumstances overwhelm her but she didn't! Instead, I see her do three things :
1) IDENTIFY
She identified what she had within reach. What she had access to. What had been entrusted to her. She didn't have bread but she had a little oil, a handful of flour, and the ability to gather some sticks.
What do you have within reach? Large or small. You always have what you need to get started within reach.
2) GATHER
She went out and gathered sticks. She got her hands dirty. It wasn't glamorous. If anything it was actually demeaning. Yet she went out anyways.
Are you willing to get your hands dirty? Not looking for a shortcut but a solution?
3) APPLY
She had a game plan now. She was ready to apply what she had identified and gathered. It was not a long term solution but it was a step she was capable of taking.
Are you ready to apply what you have within reach?
So when uncertainty hits take a moment and remember the widow and the sticks. My question to you is this... What are your sticks?
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