The Shunammite

In 2 Kings 4 there is a Shunammite Woman who doesn’t have the greatest story of all time. She is the “All is well” kind of gal. The one that didn’t want to get her hopes up. For she already had the notion if she had her hopes up—that it would die. I think many people are in a similar case as this woman. They don’t want to believe. They don’t want to have expectations that will never be met. They are the ones that have little to nothing. The ones that really have the strongest stories ever.

She doesn’t seem to come from that fairy tale marriage. She just has a spouse with no kid. She is a hard worker and has just let time pass by.

Then a prophet is able to determine her need. In seeing the obvious absence in her life, he promises her that in one year she will have her child.

She immediately brings down the word, but he insists for her to receive the promise.

Her story happens so fast. She becomes pregnant, has a male child, he grows, he gets sick and then he dies. All the other detail is left out. The boys age, the time that elapsed, the relationship that they have or the upbringing of the home.

What you do gather is that she is the one that pulls the weight in her home. She makes things happen and gets stuff moving. In all her efforts, nothing could keep the boy alive. Not even her little mustard seed faith at this point, giving her surroundings and lack of support from the spouse.

So she gets to going for her search of the prophet. And she is the women that shouts, “All is well” when everything is a living hell. Her actions speak louder than the “all is well” tale. For immediately in the presence of the servant she is frantic and angry. Why did you do it? Why did you get my hopes up? Didn’t I tell you nothing works in my favor. That is what she was used to. That is what she lived. An unfulfilled life and dissatisfied purpose.

But God saw her need. Despite all that she felt, did and said—there was a plan to get that boy back to life.

The servant went to the boy—and nothing.  Then the prophet goes to the boy—and just as she had declared for that moment, worked in her favor. He stretches himself over the boy two times. He comes back to life. Whole and right.

Now all is well.

I know some of you feel like that Shunammite woman. You’re the one that will be the first to yell, “All is well” when that isn’t really the case. You become used to the “I’m okay, I’m fine” response to the world but inside something died. Your hope died. Your dreams died. Your future seems undecided. It seems like the paved way will never happen for you. Everyone else is getting their fruit of blessing, and you’re left at the bottom of the batch. Why’s that? Because now you’re not better but you’re bitter. You have done such a good job this far hiding your pain. You’re this far in being used to being at the bottom of the barrel. You have grown accustomed to a dead situation and a faith that always failing.

Now what?

Do something about it. Stretch yourself out like the prophet did over the boy for the woman in dire need. For she had one little drop of faith left in her to pursue a man that was on another journey. The servant wasn’t going to cut it for her. But the instrument in the hands of God would be the only way now. And she had it happen for her.

Now stretching hurts, but it is good for us. Oh when you stretch you will feel it in every way you didn’t think possible. To stretch is to go beyond your normal capacity! It is outside of the borders…past limitations.  It is to draw out or extend! We have to extend our faith level! We have to go a little further than the norm so that we can reach that point of no return. In that point of no return is the only place that you truly need a miracle, and serve a God that will deliver it!

This is a theme of hope… because God doesn’t want our destiny to die off because of life circumstances. Time does pass, but believe that God will do all that is necessary in His time. Just like the Shunammite woman, saddle up the last of your energy and get to the farthest places where God wants to take your faith…for therein lies the miracle.

Now hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things NOT seen.
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6