The prophet Elisha would often travel through the town of Shunem. In that town was a well-to-do couple who extended hospitality to Elisha. At first they simply offered Elisha and his servant Gehazi a meal when they came through town. Then, seeing that Elisha needed a place to stay and study, they built a room for him above their house so that each time Elisha and his servant came through town he knew he had a place to stay. He was so appreciative of their kindness that one day he asked her what he could do for her. His servant knew she was barren and her husband was old. "About this time next year, " Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your arms." A year later the son arrived.
One day the father was working in the field and the son became ill and died. The woman ran to meet Elisha to inform him. When Elisha asked what was wrong, she did not panic and react in fear. Her response to Elisha seems almost unnatural. "Everything will be all right," she said. Elisha went to the boy and raised him from the dead. It was a glorious miracle.
Faith looks at situations through the eyes of God, not the eyes of our limited understanding. This woman did not panic for she knew something more than the current circumstance. Faith does not panic, but realizes that what looks like devastating circumstances may only be God's plan to bring glory to himself by demonstrating His power. When Jesus appeared on the water to the disciples in the middle of the night, they exclaimed "its a ghost!" First appearances can bring great fear upon us even to the point of paralyzing us. Find the Lord in your circumstance today. Exercise your faith today and trust Him for His outcome to the situation.
