Then the word of the Lord came to [Elijah], “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” I Kings 17:8-9, ESV

These unremarkable verses don’t scream “highlight me!” when we are cruising through 1 Kings in our Bible reading plan. However, when we read a little further, we meet the widow whom God has commanded to feed Elijah…

What was she doing when Elijah met her? Gathering a few sticks as fuel to cook a last meal by emptying her jar of flour and jug of oil. She communicates to Elijah her expectation that she and her son will subsequently starve to death. This isn’t exactly an all-you-can-eat buffet. When we read this, we have to wonder, Did God make a mistake when he sent Elijah to a woman with no food?

When dozens of students with multitudes of unmet needs file in through our classroom doors, I think that educators like us often feel like the widow in the story. We wonder, What do I have to offer? 

Maybe like the widow, you are barely hanging on yourself…Our own families are often in varying degrees of crisis. Our walk with the Lord sometimes feels dry. Our sleep, exercise routines, and quiet times are often interrupted. We feel empty. It seems like we have nothing to give to our students. We think that maybe they are better off in someone else’s classroom.

However, the widow from Zarephath was obedient and subsequently discovered how life works in God’s kingdom. After she agreed to Elijah’s request to feed him first with the last of her precious ingredients, God worked a miracle—the jar of flour and jug of oil did not run out until the end of a three-year drought.

This is our God of abundance. When Jesus came, He explained more about how the kingdom works in the Sermon on the Mount: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:33, ESV). He later doubles down on this by saying, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38, ESV).

Our lack, whether material, emotional, or spiritual, is not a threat to our Lord or His purposes for us. In fact, it is our very recognition of our lack that is the prerequisite for God to fill us. So when those needy students file into your classroom and you feel overwhelmed to meet their needs, remember the widow of Zarephath. Though it’s important to note that God didn’t meet all of Elijah’s needs through her—we won’t meet all of our students’ needs either. Yet the Lord will meet their needs as He sees fit by filling us up. All you need to bring is your dependence and trust in Him, and He will supply the rest.

Lord, like the widow of Zarephath, we come to You with only our meager supply of energy, wisdom, attention, time, and resources. It’s not enough—the unmet needs of our families, students, and others You have placed in our lives can feel overwhelming. But You are enough. Lead us to the place of trust in You where streams of living water flow from our hearts and we see You multiply Your abundant resources through our obedience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.   

Copyright David Schmus.

David is the Executive Director of Christian Educators.