Will You Trust God?

Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food (1 Kings 17:4).

My mom always said I was scornful. It wasn't "have it your way at our house"; whatever she made for dinner is what we ate. I always despised discernible fat on meat - if I could see it, I wasn't eating it. Growing up there was a cut of beef called salt beef that was popular for a while. It was flavorful but lined with fat. Then there was okra - it was slimy and I never enjoyed it. If it looked gross to me, I turned my face up, picked around it, and only ate what I found palatable.

So I can't imagine being fed by ravens like Elijah was. After Elijah announced to King Ahab that there would be a famine he was further instructed by God to go to a brook, and the ravens would provide food for him there (I Kings 17:1-6).

As God promised, the ravens - an unclean, scavenger, corpse-eating bird, brought him bread and meat in the morning, and in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. I have imagery from a Bible storybook read to me as a child where these birds are carrying this food in their beaks and dropping it off to Elijah. If I were Elijah I would have so many questions - where is this bread coming from? Is it clean? What kind of meat is this? How do I clean it? Can I eat this? I was scornful!!!

God's provision is not always what we're familiar with but it is what we need. This food sustained Elijah while increasing his dependency on God. He became more attuned to the word of God.

When Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples, they had no idea what He was talking about, yet it was the best gift he left us. Through him, we live and have our being, through his Spirit we are empowered. Because we have the Comforter, the Holy Spirit we are equipped for the journey ahead. We are equipped to handle whatever life throws at us. Just like Elijah was.

Ultimately, my likes and dislikes won't matter if I'm willing to trust God. Are you trusting God to provide?

Nylse is a Christian wife and a mother of four who loves life and inspiring others. She likes to have fun but is very clear on who she is and Whose she is. A prolific thinker, she blogs to encourage others from a Christian perspective at www.lifenotesencouragement.com. She can be found online on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.