I recently read a post about the shunamite in 2 Kings 4. Which caused me to begin meditating on this woman.
We know her husband was out in the fields often. We know that what she had extra, she used to take care of the man of God, and we know her husband thought she was a little crazy to be going to find the man of God when it wasn’t church time.
She married to a man who worked hard, he was out in the fields often. But you never heard the shunamite woman complain.
I am often a complainer when the hours grow long that my husband works. He is filling that role of provider well, and I would do well to take notes from the shunamite, who chose joy.
She chose to support her husband and his endeavors, rather than tear him down.
She desired to serve, and minister to the man of God. She didn’t have much to give, she wasn’t trying to show off, but what little she had extra she gave. She created a refuge for Elisha that would refresh him and give him peace.
And just a side note, it’s always right to care for and honor the man of God, but the shunamite STILL got permission from her husband and didn’t usurp that chain of command that God designed. She was a holy woman who honored the Lord in every moment.
Many women struggle with ministry within what they have been given. We want to go bigger, brighter, better. We make things into a competition and a show. The shunamite took what she had, and made it a place of refreshing.
And that’s exactly how we should be.
You can 100% minister to others with what you have. Little is much when God is in it.
When her son died, and her husband questioned why she was going to the man of God when it wasn’t “church time,” she didn’t explode and belittle him with his “unspiritual” response.
She simply said “it shall be well.” And let God handle the rest.
What if we simply chose to stop acting as though we are so much spiritual and just let God handle it? What unity would it bring to our homes if we just responded right instead of in pride?
When her miracle died in her arms, she didn’t collapse into hysterics. She didn’t curse God. She didn’t blame the man of God.
But she didn’t accept that as the end either.
She wasn’t just going to accept that this was how her miracle story ended.
She pressed for restoration of that miracle.
And God honored her.
There was nothing in the shunamite that gave her an advantage over you and I. She made choices that honored the Lord and honored her husband. She made much of what she had to give, rather than wasting time comparing.
Take notes from holy women.
Admit where you fall short, and address it.
You were created for more than mediocre 🤍
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