Laurie Hopkins

It’s the season of “peace on earth”, “goodwill to men”. 

It’s the season of love, joy and peace and all things sparkly and beautiful. 

But for those who have or are enduring lose or are in a season of weeping, the season can be one of mixed emotions and feelings of guilt for not “participating” as others are, combined with feelings of feeling isolated or left out.  

We must be sensitive to the seasons of those around us, encouraging others to be real in what they are experiencing while reminding them of the hope of the season. 

Jesus ultimately brings hope.  

Hope for eternal relationship with the Lord. 

Hope for comfort.  

Hope for the “joy that comes in the morning” and for the time when our “mourning is turned into dancing.” 

In the meantime, take the time to help those around you who are in loss or weeping seasons, to find small joys in the simple things this Christmas.

Samuel had come to crown Saul the King of Israel.  

He was chosen of God to be placed in this prominent position.  

And he knew this was coming, as Samuel had already met with him privately and anointed him with oil in preparation for this day. 

And yet, where was Saul?  

He was hiding among the equipment. 

He may have been chosen, he may have been anointed, but he was unsure of his qualification, ability or willingness to take on this position.  

Are you hiding among the equipment today? 

Has God called you to something and anointed you for something?  

Has He already called you aside privately in preparation for the day that is coming?  

Are you ready?  Or are you like Saul, hiding from what you are unsure of?  

It is ok to be unsure.  

It is ok to have questions.  

It is ok to feel a bit unprepared.  

But it is important to know, if God called you to it, He will equip you for it.  

It is time to step out into your destiny and purpose with boldness and grace, trusting that the Lord will guide and direct your steps, even as He has called you. 

It is that time of year when we begin thinking about the New Year ahead, the things we want to accomplish and the changes we want to make.  

Today is the day to begin considering what it is that you have been purposed to do and ask yourself the very real question,

 “Am I hiding among the equipment?”

A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”

So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”

Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.

“And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”

So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.

Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”

2 Kings 4:1-7

The widow was in a desperate situation.  

Her sons were about to be sold as slaves to pay off her debt.  

She went to Elisha for help.  

The first thing Elisha asked her was, 

“What do you have in the house?” 

We don’t always recognize it or believe it, but we often have the beginnings of what we need for our situation within our own house. 

We come to the Lord with a request for assistance and He turns the question back on us, 

“What do you have in the house?” 

As Elisha did with the widow when he used the little bit of oil she had left, the Lord will often take the things in our life that we see as “little” and use them for His glory and our good.  

What are you asking of the Lord today?  

What will your answer be when He asks, 

“What do you have in the house?” 

Nothing we have is too “little” to be used by the Lord!