Blessed to introduce Angela Jones as our guest writer today. Angee is my niece on the Elkins side! She is a schoolteacher, a Sunday School teacher, an anointed singer and woman of God. Enjoy her thoughts on the promises of God.
While sitting in service this past Sunday morning, I listened to the minister as he read and spoke of the Shunammite woman who was blessed with a son because of her kindness to God’s servant, Elisha. She was devastated when the child suddenly fell ill while working in the fields with his father; and just hours later, died while sitting upon her knee.
Nonetheless, she didn’t surrender to the feelings of despair but told her husband she was going to see the prophet, Elisha; and added this statement of faith, “It shall be well!”
She had no way of knowing what might transpire after meeting with Elisha, but seemingly had faith enough in the God of Elisha and trusted in the wisdom of his God enough to proclaim: “It shall be well.”
Sometimes we may find ourselves in the midst of a storm, and so overtaken with grief or uncertainty, that at the time we have not the courage to hold our head high and walk boldly, and willingly, into the raging winds. Yet, I challenge you, as the Shunammite woman, with no insight as to how, or in what time frame it may come to be, make the statement “It SHALL be well!”
This grieving mother apparently felt the same confusion and hurt by these events that we often feel when troubles come, for she accused Elisha of deceiving her with the promise of this child.
“Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, ‘Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me.’ So she said, ‘Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” 2 Kings 4:27-28 NKJV.
Elisha sent his servant, Gehazi, to lay Elisha’s staff upon the child, but the child was not revived. Again, the mother could have said, “All hope is lost.” Elisha also tried and no answer came, but we know the story was not over because of one statement of faith she had previously made, “It shall be well.”
It was not the end because all was not yet well!
After Elisha went in to the child, the child was revived and once again gathered into his mother’s arms, all was then well, letting her know this test in her life had ended.
Though in this story all was well in a short period of time, in making a like statement of faith, you may have to wait weeks or months before “All is well.” Do not yield to despair. In God’s own time, and in His own infinite way, “It shall be well.”
The story is not ended until you can say “It IS well!”
Sharing with Hearts for Home, Faith Filled Fridays
Thank you, Sherry. So glad you visited. Blessings. ♥
Beautifully written. Much wisdom imparted! Thank you for sharing this.
What a great post! I love how you told this story in a way that made me feel like I was right there. Stormy days have a way of rocking us, but I am reminded of that blessed hymn, “It Is Well.” Yes, that is it – the certainty that with the Lord in my heart, all is well with my soul.
GOD BLESS!
Great story and lesson. No one gets to skip through life without some potholes and downright valleys, but it is God that walks us through them, never around them, so that we might see and show the world Who it is that guides and protects us and keeps us “well”.
So enjoyed this post! It reminded me of a quote I have written in the back of my Bible …
“It all works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet, then it’s not the end.” (Max Lucado) Blessings!