How can we encourage others to trust God's promises as seen in 1 Kings 17:14? God’s Word in Famine-Sized Problems “‘For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.’ ” (1 Kings 17:14) Why This Promise Matters • A real widow, a real drought, a real miracle—no symbolism needed. • God places His reputation on the line: if the flour ever runs out, His word fails. It never does. God’s Track Record of Promise-Keeping • Numbers 23:19 — “God is not a man, that He should lie… Has He said, and will He not do it?” • Joshua 21:45 — “Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed.” • 2 Corinthians 1:20 — “For all the promises of God are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” • Hebrews 10:23 — “He who promised is faithful.” Ways to Encourage Someone to Trust God’s Promises • Point them to the exact promise in Scripture—show, don’t just tell. • Retell personal and biblical stories where God visibly came through—testimonies build faith. • Highlight God’s unchanging character: He can’t lie, won’t change, and doesn’t forget. • Invite them to obey the next clear step, as the widow did in baking the first cake for Elijah. Obedience unlocks experience. • Offer practical help that mirrors God’s heart—deliver a meal, cover a bill, watch the kids. Tangible love reinforces invisible promises. • Pray with them and for them, anchoring every request in a specific verse. • Celebrate every small fulfillment along the way; today’s handful of flour hints at tomorrow’s full pantry. Living Out the Lesson Today • Keep a “promise journal” where you record verses and the dates you see God act. • Memorize key promise passages; speak them over anxious hearts. • Form circles of accountability that ask, “What promise are you standing on this week?” • Refuse grumbling; replace it with gratitude for what God has already provided. • Share communion regularly—God already kept His biggest promise at the cross (Romans 8:32). The Bottom Line If God can keep a widow’s jar from emptying, He can keep every word He has ever spoken to us. Remind others of that simple fact, and watch faith rise like fresh bread in a famine. |
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