While You WaitShembull

The brook that Elijah is camped by dries up. In His mercy, God directs Elijah to a new place – Zarapheth of Sidon.

Would Elijah finally live out his calling as a prophet of God? Would he speak to a king, a queen or, at the very least, an Instagram influencer? 

God directs Elijah, instead, to a widow and her son, starving because of the famine, ready to throw in the towel and simply die.

Elijah goes from speaking to the highest authority in the land to ministering to a discouraged widow. It isn’t an encounter that would make Page 3. It isn’t an event that the paparazzi would cover. But Elijah is simply obedient to God’s call on his life, no matter how seemingly insignificant.

As you read through 1 Kings 17, you’ll see a rhythm in Elijah’s life: God speaks to Elijah and Elijah obeys God. He listens and he follows. Again and again. Even if it meant taking on the boring and the unglamorous. Even if he was stuck in the waiting room of life.

I read this in an article recently: “We too can become so interested in the grand steps of obedience we hope to take in the future that we miss the “offensively ordinary” steps right in front of us.” Elijah didn’t ignore those “offensively ordinary” steps of obedience.

As we wait for that “big break” in our lives, do we listen to God and follow Him in obedience, no matter where He leads? Are we so hung up on the big, bold leaps of faith that we neglect the simple steps of obedience right now?

Let’s not despise the day of small beginnings for God rejoices to see the work begin.