The End of Our Rope

With the economic downfall, lots of folks are finding themselves at the end of their rope. There's seemingly nowhere to turn.

In 1 Kings Chap 17, there's a story of a widow who is at the end of her rope. She has nothing but a handful of flour in a jar and little oil in a jug. Elijah finds her gathering sticks as she tells him, "that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die."

Elijah bursts on the scene in response to God's direction. Elijah gives the widow an assignment. I love that when God shows up in our lives and gives us direction - calls us to do something for Him - our focus switches from self-centeredness to other-centeredness. Elijah was God's ambassador who served as a reminder to the widow that God has purpose and vision for her - even the lowliest, poorest of people.

God has purpose and vision for us all. Our economic status... our social status... nothing changes the Truth of that. It's liberating for us to remember, that when it seems we're at the end of our rope, God loves us and has not forgotten about us. Switching our focus from what we perceive as desperation to opportunity to surrender to God's plans can be the start of a whole new life!