The Path to a Miracle Goes Through Uncomfortable Territory

In review of 1 Kings 17:8-10 it says, “Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah, ‘Go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I have commanded a widow there to take care of you.’ So Elijah went to Zarephath”

Bottom Line:

When God says go, go and do as he says.

What this means to me:

When I get a prompting from God, I am to obey it. It may not make sense to me, however, God may use it to do something much larger.

Today’s passage comes from the middle of 1 Kings chapter 17. In this Elijah is instructed to go and see a widow at Zarephath and stay there. He is instructed to ask her to feed him. When he arrives she tells him she only has just enough for one last meal for her and her son. Elijah instructs her to make him a meal first and that as long as the rain doesn’t fall, she and her son will always have just enough for the next meal. (1 Kings 17:14, “For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”)  She did as she was told and there was enough for several days until the Lord sent rain.

There will be times when I’m scared to death and vulnerable, I don't know where I’m going, I don’t know how long it’s going to take, and I certainly don’t know what’s going to happen when I get there.  So what do I do?

What I’m learning is that the path to a miracle often goes through uncomfortable territory.

This passage in 1 Kings 17:8-10 illustrates this: “Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah, ‘Go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I have commanded a widow there to take care of you.’ So Elijah went to Zarephath” (NCV).

What’s interesting and not necessarily revealed in this passage is that God told Elijah to walk more than 100 miles during a drought, through dangerous territory, where everyone knew who he was and that King Ahab had a price on his head. When Elijah finally made it to Zarephath, he met a poor widow who was going to feed him. But how could she help defend or protect him from a pagan town full of people who wouldn’t hesitate to kill him?

Miracles don’t happen when things are comfortable. Miracles happen when things are uncomfortable. Elijah didn’t say, “God, there are three things wrong with this plan. One, you’re sending me in the wrong direction. Two, you’re sending me to the wrong location. And three, you’re sending me to the wrong protection.” Elijah just obeyed.

God’s path to a miracle often will take me through uncomfortable territory because it forces me to depend on him.

Other examples:

. When Moses led the Israelites out of slavery to the Promised Land, they had to go through the Red Sea first.

. Before David could slay Goliath, he had to walk onto the battlefield.

. God told Jehoshaphat to put the choir before the army, and he’d win the victory. How much faith do you think that took?

Miracles will not likely happen in my comfort zone, when everything’s great and convenient. I don’t really need a miracle when everything is settled in life. A miracle is needed when I’m on the edge, when I’m scared to death, when I’m insecure, when I can get hit at any angle.

Next time I find myself where things are a little uncomfortable; financially, emotionally, relationally, or physically. If I’m a little nervous, a little on the edge, a little insecure. Then its an indication that I’m on the path to a miracle!

And just like Elijah, God wants me to obey so you can see his miracle at the end of the road.