A Prayer about Trusting God When Things Look Desperate

How do you trust God when resources dry up?

“And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that I may eat it and die.” 1 Kings 17:12

Providing Father,

Forgive us for forgetting that you provide all things, 

not just some things, 

or the things that we can’t provide for ourselves. 

Through this story about Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, 

renew our trust, revive our imagination!

Famine had struck, 

and things were desperate for the widow 

when you sent Elijah to her. 

The first request Elijah made of her 

must have surely seemed impossible 

to the starving widow 

who only cared for her dying son—

“Bring me a morsel of bread!” (1 Kings 17:11).

She uttered her desperate situation 

with no plea for help, 

for she was out of hope: 

in short, 

“I have nothing to share; 

I’m making the last little loaf, 

and we’re going to eat it and die.” 

Through Elijah, you first comforted her 

with your common command: 

“Do not fear.”

But then you added a second command, 

an unimaginable command: 

“first make me a little cake” (1 Kings 17:13). 

After the command 

came the promise, 

directly from your mouth: 

“For thus says the Lord, 

the God of Israel” 

(not just any Lord, 

but the One 

who saved Israel 

in the wilderness)…”

The jar of flour…

the jug of oil…shall not be spent” 

until that same Lord 

sends rain (1 Kings 17:15). 

Oh gracious Father, 

when we become desperate, 

when we think we’re about to die, 

because we don’t have…

enough money, 

enough friends and family, 

enough sleep, 

enough work, 

enough health,

enough hope—

help us to believe that you will provide. 

Help us to trust you as the widow did, 

even offering our dwindling resources to others, 

as we wait and watch 

to see how you will take care of us!

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read 1 Kings 17:8-16.