How can we prioritize seeking God's help in times of crisis, like 2 Kings 4:22? Setting the Scene “Then she called to her husband and said, ‘Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can hurry to the man of God and then return.’ ” (2 Kings 4:22) In a moment of staggering loss, the Shunammite woman chose a single priority: reach the man who represented God’s presence and power. Her instinct teaches us how to respond when crisis hits our own doorstep. Seeing the Crisis Clearly • Her son had just died—no time to debate secondary options. • She did not delay to prepare a burial, consult neighbors, or vent emotions. • She set her face toward God’s help first, believing that what looked final to her eyes was not final to the Lord (Luke 1:37; Jeremiah 32:27). Choosing First Things First • Going to Elisha was the Old-Covenant route to God’s intervention; today we go directly “to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). • Priorities surface fastest under pressure. Whatever we reach for first reveals what we trust most (Psalm 20:7). • Seeking God first is not denial of pain; it is denial of panic. We acknowledge the hurt while refusing to act apart from divine guidance (Psalm 46:1). Practical Steps to Seek God’s Help Promptly 1. Pause and turn upward immediately • Whisper His name, even before you call a friend (Psalm 50:15). 2. Open Scripture for a living word • Let verses speak louder than headlines (Romans 10:17). 3. Speak faith-filled words • The Shunammite kept saying, “Everything is all right” (2 Kings 4:23,26). Align your confession with God’s ability, not the crisis’s severity (Proverbs 18:21). 4. Enlist godly support quickly • She took a servant and went to the prophet. Share with mature believers who will pray, not merely sympathize (James 5:16). 5. Refuse distractions and delays • She saddled the donkey and told the servant, “Do not slow the pace for me unless I tell you” (v. 24). Guard time with God from the tyranny of urgent but lesser tasks. 6. Remember prior testimonies • The same God who gave the child (2 Kings 4:17) could restore him. Recall past deliverances to fuel present faith (Psalm 77:11-12). Guarding Against Common Detours • Analysis paralysis: overthinking when you should be praying (Philippians 4:6-7). • Horizontal dependence: calling every human helper before calling on heaven (Psalm 118:8-9). • Emotional spirals: letting feelings dictate actions rather than letting Scripture anchor them (Isaiah 26:3). • Fatalism: assuming the outcome is fixed and therefore doing nothing (Matthew 19:26). Living This Out Today • Begin each day with Scripture and prayer so that crisis finds you already oriented God-ward. • Keep emergency “Scripture cards” on your phone for quick access when news breaks. • Set periodic reminders to pray for ongoing situations rather than only when alarm bells ring. • Maintain relationships with pastors and mature believers; know whom to call before the storm hits. • Fast from media voices that inflame fear and feed on the Word that imparts faith. Encouraging Promises to Stand On • “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) • “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” (Psalm 50:15) • “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) • “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) • “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Prioritizing God in crisis does not merely secure His help; it anchors our hearts in His unshakeable character, turning panic into confident expectation—just as it did for a mother racing to the man of God on a dusty road. |
    |