“At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.” These are the words of the Lord to Solomon we looked at last week from 2 Chronicles 7:13. God showed His strength in this way to King Ahab generations later as He took away all dew and rain for several years. But for Elijah, who was faithful, God provided.

Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.” So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land (1 Kings 17:4-7).

So what happens when what God provides is gone? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Have you ever wondered when God’s overflowing provision in your life will end? Perhaps you question what is ahead or whether or not God will provide for you in the future, despite the fact that He is providing for you right now. When the brook God provided Elijah dried up, He faithfully provided another source.

Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring a little water in a cup?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die” (1 Kings 17:8-12).

Oh, but Elijah knew His God! He knew that he served the God who provides! God had already told Elijah that He would provide for the widow – that there would ALWAYS be enough! She trusted in Elijah’s words and made bread for him first, and what God promised came true – there was ALWAYS enough!

So what happens when we want more than “enough”? The widow’s son became sick – the son whom she was raising so that he could one day provide for her in her husband’s absence died in her arms. Can you imagine her grief and worry? Elijah took the child and did what most of us would do in this same situation – He asked God “Why?”

Elijah begged God, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” God heard Elijah’s prayer and the life of the boy returned and he revived! The child was placed back in the arms of his mother, who responded, “Now I know for sure…” (1 Kings 17:21-24).

“Now I know for sure.” Maybe that is why God allows events in our life that cause us to ask “why?” Like the widow, we need to know for sure that we serve the God who provides – that we can trust God for all of our tomorrows.

I have recently asked God, “Why?” 18 months ago the Lord asked us to move to Texas and I worried what the move would do to my girls. God provided generously for them! Soon what God provided for them will be gone as we once more move to a new town and new schools. I find myself, even in the midst of knowing God will provide again, asking Him “Why”. Maybe I have stumbled across the answer in my morning coffee – so that I can know for sure and so that they can know for sure that they serve a God who provides!

So, next time God provides and then what God provided is taken away from you, what will be your response? Are you willing to let God take you on a journey that leads to the land of “knowing for sure”? Can you trust God that there will ALWAYS be enough?

I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. – Psalm 121, NLT