Trusting the Living God in Every Season
Summary
The Lord is alive and present, working in the lives of His people even in the darkest of times. Elijah’s story, set in a period of deep spiritual darkness and persecution in Israel, reminds us that God always has a witness and always makes Himself known. Elijah, a man with a nature like ours, learned through prayer and seasons of testing that God is not distant or dead, but living and intimately involved in the details of our lives. His bold declaration before King Ahab—“As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand”—was not just a statement of doctrine, but a conviction forged in the fires of personal experience.
God’s reality is often most tangible when He answers prayer. In moments of desperation, when we intercede for our families or face impossible circumstances, God’s living presence becomes undeniable. Whether it’s protection in a near-fatal accident or the transformation of a withdrawn child into the joy of a family, these moments are reminders that God hears and acts. The same living God who worked in Elijah’s life is at work today, drawing children to Himself, providing for needs, and bringing life where there was only death.
Elijah’s journey in 1 Kings 17 unfolds in three seasons of testing: staying by a drying brook, sharing from a depleted bin, and surrendering a dead boy. Each season reveals a different facet of God’s character. At the brook, Elijah learned to trust God’s provision even as resources dwindled, remaining faithful until God spoke again. In Zarephath, both Elijah and the widow discovered that God can make something out of nothing, providing daily bread and oil—not all at once, but just enough for each day, teaching dependence and relationship. Finally, in the face of death, surrendering the widow’s son, Elijah and the mother learned that God is not only alive but loving and powerful to restore what seems hopeless.
These stories are not just ancient history; they are invitations to trust the living God in our own seasons of waiting, lack, and loss. God calls us to bring our emptiness, our brokenness, and even our dead hopes to Him, promising that in His hands, life and restoration are possible. Because Jesus lives, we also shall live—now and forever. The Lord lives. Let us trust Him, seek Him, and proclaim His faithfulness in every circumstance.
Key Takeaways
- Faithfulness in the Waiting: Elijah’s willingness to stay by the drying brook, even as his resources disappeared, demonstrates the kind of faith that waits on God’s timing rather than rushing ahead with our own solutions. True faith is not just about going where God sends us, but remaining where He places us until He speaks again. In seasons of uncertainty, God desires to find us faithful, trusting that He sees and knows our needs even when the brook runs dry. [16:03]
- God Makes Something from Our Nothing: The widow of Zarephath had only a handful of flour and a little oil, yet God called her a provider and used her lack as the means of His provision. God delights in taking what little we have and multiplying it for His purposes, not by giving us abundance all at once, but by teaching us daily dependence. Our “not enough” becomes more than enough in the hands of the living God, who calls things that are not as though they are. [23:46]
- Daily Dependence Builds Relationship: God could have filled the widow’s storehouse with months of supplies, but instead He provided just enough for each day. This pattern, seen in the manna of the wilderness and echoed in Jesus’ prayer for daily bread, is God’s way of drawing us into ongoing relationship and trust. He wants us to look to Him each morning, to experience His faithfulness anew, and to learn that our security is not in stockpiles but in His living presence. [25:51]
- Surrendering What We Cannot Control: When the widow’s son died, she was powerless to change her circumstances. Elijah’s invitation—“Give me your son”—is God’s call to each of us to surrender what is dead, broken, or beyond our ability to fix. In our helplessness, God meets us with compassion and power, bringing life where there was only loss, and reminding us that nothing is beyond His reach. [33:45]
- The Living God Transforms Every Encounter: Every time we bring our burdens, our emptiness, or our dead hopes to God, we never leave the same. The living God is not only able to provide and restore, but He delights in transforming us—turning death to life, despair to hope, and brokenness to wholeness. Because He lives, we can face every trial with confidence, knowing that His life is at work in us and through us, both now and for eternity. [44:23]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - Elijah’s Context: A Dark Time in Israel
[02:25] - Elijah’s Bold Declaration Before Ahab
[03:42] - Elijah’s Humanity and Prayer Life
[04:37] - Personal Testimony: God Answers Prayer
[09:34] - God’s Work in the Next Generation
[10:38] - The Reality of the Living God in Trials
[11:54] - Staying by a Drying Brook
[13:00] - God’s Unusual Provision: Ravens and Obedience
[14:24] - Faithfulness in Waiting and Trust
[16:03] - Lessons from Abraham and Elisha
[19:57] - Sharing from a Depleted Bin
[21:59] - God’s Choice of the Widow
[23:46] - God Makes Something from Nothing
[25:51] - Daily Dependence and Relationship
[28:28] - Trusting God with the Unknown
[31:49] - Surrendering a Dead Boy
[33:45] - Personal Story: Surrendering My Daughter
[41:57] - God’s Power to Restore Life
[44:23] - Transformation in God’s Presence
[46:05] - Because He Lives, We Also Shall Live
[48:03] - Invitation to the Altar and Closing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Lord Lives
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### Bible Reading
1 Kings 17:1-24 (ESV)
> 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”
> 2 And the word of the Lord came to him:
> 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.
> 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
> 5 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.
> 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
> 7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
> 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him,
> 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”
> 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.”
> 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
> 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”
> 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.
> 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’”
> 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days.
> 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
> 17 After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.
> 18 And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!”
> 19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed.
> 20 And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?”
> 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”
> 22 And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.
> 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.”
> 24 And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”
James 5:17-18 (ESV)
> 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
> 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
John 14:19 (ESV)
> 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
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### Observation Questions
1. What specific challenges did Elijah face during his time by the brook Cherith, and how did God provide for him in that season? ([11:54])
2. How did the widow of Zarephath respond to Elijah’s request for food, and what was her situation at the time? ([20:37])
3. What happened to the widow’s son, and how did Elijah respond to the crisis? ([31:49])
4. According to James 5:17-18, what does the New Testament highlight about Elijah’s nature and his prayer life?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose to provide for Elijah and the widow in such a “just enough for today” way, rather than giving them abundance all at once? What does this reveal about God’s character and His desire for relationship? ([25:51])
2. The sermon mentions that Elijah’s faith was shown not just in going where God sent him, but in staying where God placed him, even as the brook dried up. What does this teach about faithfulness and trust in God’s timing? ([16:03])
3. When Elijah asked the widow to surrender her dead son, what does this moment teach about surrendering what we cannot control to God? ([33:45])
4. In what ways does the story of Elijah and the widow point forward to the hope we have in Jesus, as mentioned in John 14:19? ([46:05])
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### Application Questions
1. Is there an area in your life right now where you feel like your “brook” is drying up—where resources, opportunities, or hope seem to be running out? What would it look like for you to remain faithful and wait on God’s timing instead of rushing to your own solution? ([16:03])
2. The widow was asked to give out of her lack, not her abundance. Is there something in your life that feels like “not enough” that God might be asking you to trust Him with or offer to Him? How can you take a step of faith this week? ([23:46])
3. God provided for Elijah and the widow one day at a time, teaching daily dependence. What is one practical way you can practice daily dependence on God this week, rather than worrying about the future? ([25:51])
4. Have you ever experienced a situation where you had to surrender something (a relationship, a dream, a fear, or a loss) that was out of your control? What helped you trust God in that moment, or what would help you do so now? ([33:45])
5. The sermon shared personal stories of God’s living presence in answered prayer and protection. Can you recall a time when God’s reality became tangible to you through answered prayer or a specific provision? How did that impact your faith? ([07:20])
6. The widow’s story ends with transformation—her son is restored, and her faith is strengthened. Is there an area of your life where you are longing for God to bring restoration or new life? How can your group pray for you in this? ([44:23])
7. “Because He lives, we also shall live.” How does the reality of Jesus’ resurrection and living presence change the way you face trials, loss, or uncertainty today? ([46:05])
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to bring their “empty jars,” “dry brooks,” or “dead hopes” to God in prayer, trusting that the living Lord is present and able to provide, restore, and transform.
Devotional
Day 1: The Lord Lives—God Is Present and Active
The living God is not a distant or silent deity, but One who is intimately involved in the lives of His people. Elijah stood before King Ahab and boldly declared, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand,” even in the midst of a nation that had turned to idols and violence. Elijah’s confidence was rooted in his personal experience of God’s reality, especially through answered prayer and seasons of testing. In the darkest times, when the world around us seems to deny God’s presence, we are reminded that our God is alive, attentive, and able to act on our behalf. [03:42]
James 5:17-18 (ESV)
“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”
Reflection: When have you most clearly experienced God’s living presence in your life? How can you look for and acknowledge His activity today, even in small ways?
Day 2: Faithfulness in the Dry Seasons
Sometimes God calls us to remain in places or situations that seem to be running out of resources, just as Elijah stayed by the brook Cherith while it slowly dried up. It is tempting to panic or take matters into our own hands when we feel our strength, patience, or provision dwindling. Yet, Elijah’s example shows us the importance of staying faithful and trusting God’s timing, even when the answer or next step is not yet clear. God desires to find us faithful, waiting on Him, and not rushing ahead in fear or impatience. [16:03]
1 Kings 17:2-7 (ESV)
“And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 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.”
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel resources or hope are running out? What would it look like to remain faithful and trust God’s timing instead of acting out of fear?
Day 3: God Provides from Our Nothing
God often chooses to provide for us and others through what seems like our lack or insufficiency. The widow at Zarephath had only a handful of flour and a little oil, yet God called her to share what she had, promising that her supply would not run out. Each day, she discovered God’s faithfulness as she reached into the bin and found enough for that day. God desires a daily relationship of trust, where we depend on Him for our needs and offer Him what little we have, knowing He can multiply it for His glory and our good. [25:51]
1 Kings 17:8-16 (ESV)
“Then the word of the Lord came to him, ‘Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.’ So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, ‘Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.’ And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, ‘Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.’ And she said, ‘As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.’ And Elijah said to her, ‘Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.”’ And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.”
Reflection: What is one area where you feel you have “nothing” to offer? How can you trust God today by offering Him your little and believing He can provide and multiply?
Day 4: Surrendering What Seems Dead
There are moments when we face situations that feel hopeless or beyond our control—like the widow whose son died, or when we are powerless to help those we love. In these moments, God invites us to surrender what is dead or broken into His hands. When we give Him our deepest pain, our helplessness, or our loved ones, He is able to bring new life, restoration, and hope. God is not only the Lord who lives, but the Lord who loves, and He hears us when we cry out to Him in desperation. [41:57]
1 Kings 17:17-24 (ESV)
“After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elijah, ‘What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!’ And he said to her, ‘Give me your son.’ And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. And he cried to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?’ Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.’ And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, ‘See, your son lives.’ And the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.’”
Reflection: What is one area of your life that feels hopeless or “dead”? Will you take a step of surrender today and place it in God’s hands, trusting Him to bring life where you cannot?
Day 5: Because He Lives, We Also Shall Live
The ultimate hope for every believer is rooted in the resurrection and eternal life of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus lives, we are promised life—both now, as we walk with Him daily, and forever, as He brings us into the presence of the Father. No matter what trials, losses, or uncertainties we face, we can have confidence that our lives are secure in the living Lord, who will not lose a single one of His own. This assurance transforms our present and our future, filling us with hope, courage, and praise. [46:05]
John 14:19 (ESV)
“Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”
Reflection: How does the promise that “because He lives, you also will live” change the way you face today’s challenges and your future? What step can you take to live more fully in that hope?
Quotes
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