Great Faith

In 2 Kings, chapter 4 we find the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman.  This story has been pricking my heart lately because of the great faith this woman had.

The Shunammite woman recognized Elisha was a man of God and carried a special anointing.  She provided food and actually prepared an upper room for Elisha and his servant to stay in as they traveled through Shunem on numerous occasions.

One day while visiting, Elisha wanted to bless the woman for her hospitality.  The Shunammite woman was affluent, so she told Elisha she needed nothing.  However, Elisha’s servant knew that she did not have a son and her husband was older in age.  So, Elisha called for the woman again and prophesied that “approximately this time next year you shall embrace a son.”

Her response was much like ours would be today.  She said to Elisha, “Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”  She couldn’t believe the prophecy because of the age of her husband.  Well, the prophecy did come to pass and she did have a son.  Although scripture does not tell us the age of the child, he became ill while working in the field.  A servant carried the child to his mother, who held him on her lap until he died.

Here is where the story gets interesting to me, and I haven’t been able to get away from it for weeks.  She lays her son in the prophet’s bed, shuts the door, tells no one that he is dead and departs to find Elisha.  When Elisha sees her coming, he sends his servant to meet her and to inquire if she is okay, if her husband is okay, if the child is okay.

Her response?  IT IS WELL!

[Is our faith this great???  God forbid we are tested to this point!  As I just told some ladies recently, I would have reacted as this woman did upon seeing the prophet; I would have dropped at the man of God’s feet, I would have told him he promised this child to me and that I trusted that he would raise him from the dead.  For my faith is that great, I know God raises the dead.  But to stand and say, “It is well” while waiting on God to raise a loved one from the dead, I do not know if I could do that.  Therefore, I see there is always room to grow in our faith.]

2 Kings 4:32-37 – ³² When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. ³³ He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. ³⁴ And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. ³⁵ He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. ³⁶ And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” ³⁷ So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.

Sometimes we must make ourselves an upper room

(a secret place with God) and just begin to say, “It is well”.

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Romans 12:3 – For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

• We have all been given a measure of faith
• We are not to be arrogant of the faith we have
• We are not to covet the faith of another

Be led by God’s Holy Spirit when praying.  There are times to be persistent and then there are times that I have heard God tell me, “It is done.  Just thank Me.”  However, always pray believing, having great faith!

• Mature faith is facing our situations with faith when we don’t understand the why’s and why not’s.
• Mature faith is holding to God’s unchanging hand, knowing He is in control and trusting the outcome to Him.
• Mature faith is knowing that IT IS WELL!

Notes:

1. If you are new to this blog, please understand that I have a ministry in discipleship, so I challenge you and encourage you to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. All scripture is taken from NKJV unless otherwise noted.
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