Since January, everywhere I turn this verse appears.

2 Kings 4:5, “…They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.””

This passage (2 Kings 4:1-7) tells of a wife left to manage when her husband died leaving a large debt.  His creditor was seeking repayment through the household’s greatest assets by enslaving their two sons.  Her believing husband accompanied the prophets which meant he was their disciple.  Because of her husband’s integrity, Elisha heard the woman’s complaint.  “….now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves,” 2 Kings 4:1.

Elisha asks, “How can I help you?  Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

She replies, “Your servant has nothing there at all, except a little oil.”

Elisha says, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars.  Don’t ask for just a few.  Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons.  Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

She left him and did as he said.

Her sons brought jars to her and she kept pouring.  When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”

“There is not a jar left.”  Then the oil stopped flowing.

She kept pouring because God supplied the resources and his supplies are limitless.

Keep pouring

God is rearranging my life so fast that I’m surprised I haven’t heard a sonic-boom.

My son left the nest, marrying a beautiful woman of faith, which he is supposed to do.  It was joyous transition.

A few days later, God took my father to heaven and released him from the bondage of a broken 89 year old body, which is supposed to happen.  It was a bittersweet transition.

A few weeks later, God gave my husband a new career 600 miles away.  My husband has ambition and a sense of self-respect, which he is supposed to have.  I was pleased about his new opportunity, but, it is a major relocation.

Interspersed were other heart lurches of health problems.  God healed them all.

You have probably had seasons just like this.  There’s no time to orchestrate your heartstrings into a recognizable chord.  You pluck what you can and move on.

This verse kept appearing in the midst of the cacophony.  “….she kept pouring.”

I clung to this verse.  God was trying to comfort me even though at first I didn’t quite understand.  It took a bit of praying until I finally figured it out!

God will always give me the means to keep pouring faith, persistence, and the willingness to embrace the quick cadence of change.  God would supply so that I can keep pouring.

How?  He keeps pouring peace, joy, gentleness, and comfort into my life.

God supplies the oil to lubricate the cogs of change.

The only limitation to the amount of oil the widow poured was the number of jars she had.  Her willingness to supply receptacles was the only limitation.  You may argue that she had accumulated as many jars as the town had, but she could have went the extra mile and visited the next town over.

God’s supplies are limitless.  My ability to evolve with transition is only limited by my willingness to supply receptacles to receive what I need.

The only limit to change is our own self-imposed ceiling.

As I grasped this, when I felt like I didn’t have the energy to cope with one more transition, God whispered that he has limitless coping ability for me.  He would give me the strength because nothing is impossible for God (Matthew 19:26) and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).  I only had to believe that he would give me the ability to cope.

“….For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you,” Matthew 17:20.

God asked her to willingly partner in the miracle.

Instead of immediately clearing the debt of the dead husband, God used the widow’s only available resource, a bit of oil.

She was asked to gather jars.  She was to make ready receptacles for God’s miracle.  It was easy, just asking friends for their empty jars.  She even had her sons help.

Of course, God could have done anything he wanted to clear that debt, including just erasing the thought from the creditor’s mind.  Instead, his care of her was greater than just deleting the debt.  He gave her a future.  Not only did she receive enough oil to supply her family, but the excess could be sold for income.

Asking her to partner in the miracle gave her a sense of ownership and gratefulness.  It’s probably a good bet that she glorified God and told her friends what he had done.

No, God doesn’t need our help to produce any kind of miracle.  God allows us to help to grow our characters and bless our faithfulness.

The low-libido correlation.

A low-libido wife only has to believe God will give her understanding of her body, of her emotions, and of sexual intimacy’s spiritual essence.  Her only limitation is the amount of change she believes she can undergo.

God will take the smallest bit of oil you have and multiply it.  Just keep supplying your belief that he has limitless love and nurturing for you and your marriage.

God will allow you to partner in growing your libido.

The thing is, you can’t have any preconceived notion about your oil.  God will surprise you and bring you through this journey in ways you would have never anticipated.  If you keep supplying an empty receptacle, He will keep supplying you with understanding regarding sexual intimacy and your low-libido.

God will help you see that you aren’t just a sperm receptacle to your husband, but a treasure of rubies.  God will lead you to understand his design of sexual intimacy includes beauty, connection, and blessing upon YOU not just your husband.

God will continue to supply oil to quench your struggle as long as you bring him your empty jars of willingness.

Don’t laugh like Sarah.  Believe it!

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