I visited a family recently. They have been one of the several families in our ministry that have addicted themselves to the work of the Lord. On that visit, I learned how the man lost his former job. The pay-off from that job got them two properties – one in the city and another in their country home. As I tried to put the pieces together, what they gave to the Lord out of the severance package also helped us in acquiring a much desired property. He has since got another well-paying job with better flexibility that suits him well. Talk of gaining from losing! In our text, it would seem that things had bottomed out for Elijah. The brook that had been a channel for his refreshing dried up. Happily, before long, God’s word came to Elijah and offered him a new direction. This new direction provided Elijah with sustenance for many days, plus a much needed fellowship with the widow’s household.

“When God offers you a new route, go; even if it does not measure up to what you consider normal by human standard.”

I am a firm believer in the fact that God will not allow a channel to dry up unless He has put a replacement in place. All we need is to learn how to connect with the voice of God. Bear in mind that there is nothing conventional in the way God leads. Left for Elijah, a widow would be his last choice. Without famine, life was already hard for this single mother. Add the general famine in the land and you see a woman whose hands were full. Yet, that was the one God chose. When God offers you a new route, go; even if it does not measure up to what you consider normal by human standard.