Each Wednesday, a devotion is posted here, sent via email to our email list and also posted on our Facebook page. If you would like to be part of our email list please contact the church office. In addition, check out past Devotions on our Facebook page. 

I often receive feedback that the devotions are rich in content and are complex. Reading devotions whether short and concise or longer and complicated should never be read once quickly. All types of devotions should be read multiple times using contemplation, reflection and pausing. In those spaces of contemplation and reflection we experience the Holy Spirit interacting with us. Sometimes, individuals will reach out and provide their thoughts and reflections on their devotion. My intent has always been to create a dialogue. So read these in the way that best works for you to experience the Holy Spirit and create a dialogue with others in our community.

Wednesday, March 11, 2025

Hi St. Andrew’s UMC Community …

What is worrying you right now? What are you asking God for right now? Today we consider an unnamed woman and how God provided for her without her pleading for help. Does this unnamed woman help you to know that pleading with God is not the path but trusting God fully is the path to travel?

Provider vs Provisions

1 Kings 17:1-16

This chapter is the story of a prophet of God following God, and an unnamed woman who, for some mysterious and weird reason, does also. It begins with a drought and how God provided for Elijah. Then God asked Elijah, and without question Elijah listened, to go to another town to have a widow care for him. Elijah was told by God that God commanded her to feed him. When he arrived and met this unnamed woman, she was not waiting for him nor expecting him nor said she had heard from God. She was simply preparing her and her son’s "fate of death" meal due to having nothing. Elijah instructs her to provide for him and promises that God will provide for her. And this unnamed woman does it. She says yes. Why?

First, why did God tell Elijah he commanded her to do provide for Elijah when clearly in the story God didn’t. Why did she decide to do this? This unnamed woman decided to go against her culture of Baal worship and delay the inevitable. Why?

Have you ever been in a place where you are being asked to trust something you don’t understand? Maybe a doctor, maybe a partner, maybe (fill in the blank). When have you been asked to trust something you don’t understand? What do you do?

Elijah trusted that God did command her, and when he found out that didn’t happen – he still trusted in God. This unnamed woman trusts blindly and is blessed with provisions. Did this unnamed woman say yes out of desperation? Do you say yes to God out of desperation like this unnamed widow or do you say yes to God out of knowing God will provide?

In fact:

• How do you trust in God in those spaces where the inevitable seems like destiny?
• How do you open yourself up to God’s provisions when they may not be what you want?
• Do you trust like Elijah or this unnamed woman? Actually, is the trust of the unnamed woman more trusting than Elijah since she doesn’t believe in Elijah’s God?
• How can this unnamed woman help you right now in your life at this specific time?
• Do you put your trust in the provider or the provisions?

Dear God, You are faithful in providing and are always encouraging me to be faithful to You. It is so difficult God to trust You when the world creates fear in me. Calm my heart so I can fully trust You in providing for me always. Amen.

 (Image: Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath c. 1525. Image from: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1951.337.)

by Rev Dave Piltz