We know and acknowledge truth until it applies to us. There are probably areas of our lives that we’ve resolved would never work out for us and so given up hope that we would rather hold on to our hopelessness than believe truth – God.
A few verses earlier, this woman is the one who recognises that Elisha is not just a man of God but a holy man of God, propelling her to make a place of rest for him in her home.
When this same holy man of God spoke a good word over an area of her life that she had given up on – seeing she must have tried many times prior and her husband was now old – she took out the holy from his title and called him a man of God, telling him not to lie to her.
She couldn’t confidently tell a ‘holy’ man of God not to lie to her as holiness and lies, just as light and darkness, cannot coexist.
When it came to her case, she could acknowledge him merely as a man of God as some so called men of God could easily lie – think of the older prophet who was a catalyst to the destruction of the younger prophet – but not as the ‘holy’ man of God she knew deep down that he was.
The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy
Proverbs 14:10
The conversation only needs to go along further and it will be exposed – that area of our lives that we are doubting God, that area of our lives that we will break down in tears once it is mentioned and probed. That area we are so insecure about.
Elisha had asked for something that could be done for her. She said nothing but there was an area that hopelessness and despair caused her to give up on. It must have been traumatic for her.
Saw something recently that we should make room for the effects of trauma in our minds as we relate to people. It’s there for everyone…Somewhere.
Also saw, “Trauma is perhaps the greatest mission field of the 21st century” – Diane Langberg.
Whatever hopelessness we hold dear to us and are willing to question the faithfulness of God above receiving hope, the merciful Lord has given us an eternal hope in Christ.
Without Him, we do well to be hopeless but in Him, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” – Hebrews 6:19-20.
There is so much trauma, so much hopelessness in this world, everywhere but we have the holy One of God who became unholy (sin) for our sakes that by His blood, by His resurrection, we have hope.
The gospel is the only medicine for this pandemic.
As Christians, this is not a one time truth but something we must hold fast to daily. We must remember and consider Christ daily, keeping our eyes on Him lest our faith is shaken and we begin to sink.
Please help me remember this, Lord. Thank You for hope in Christ.