A Dried-Up Brook

You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. So, he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land, (1 Kings 17:4-7).

Elijah prophesied to Ahab about a drought ordained by God. The absence of dew and rain were a reality of God’s sovereignty over all, encompassing life and death.

The Lord guided Elijah to a brook, providing water and meat, sustaining Elijah’s life. Elijah lived in this setting for a few years, until one day, the brook dried up. God had accomplished what was necessary and established a new mission for Elijah. It was time to move on.

What do we do when God provides, until one day, our brook dries up? We see the signs of change coming, whether it is within our surroundings or within ourselves. Maybe the demands of our jobs do not coincide with God’s desires, the heaviness of our situation is crushing our identity in Christ, or our health succumbs to the stress of our work. Seeking the Lord, we begin to understand that the space we once prospered in is no longer fitting His purpose for us. This conclusion feels uneasy and it comes with a difficult decision: do we trust God’s authority, provision, and guidance as we step into what He has prepared for us, or do we continue to remain near the dried-up brook, denying the signs that it is time to move on?

Just as Elijah knew it was time to continue his God-filled work elsewhere, we too must seek God’s discernment and trust His direction. Understanding His purpose for us is an act of faith, trusting in His provision and sovereignty. Walking by faith and not by sight is an expression of our surrender to God’s Will for our lives. Let us go to our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom and clarity as we face difficult decision. Let us also remember His faithfulness! Let’s do it together!

Prayer: Lord, some of us are struggling in our current position. We find ourselves sitting near a brook that has dried-up. We have felt the nudges of the Holy Spirit within us, presenting to us that it is time to move forward and fulfill Your purpose elsewhere. As we step out in faith, we pray that you will continue to guide our decision-making and provide for us. May we remember Your faithfulness and trust in Your sovereignty over our lives. We are Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.