HELEN SANDERS
12-3-2025
GIVING UP THE WHAT WAS

When God wants to bring advancement in our lives, He brings isolation.

Isolation is much like it was for Elijah. In 1 Kings 17 Elijah prophesied that there would be a drought without rain or dew for three years. God spoke to him in verse 3 to hide himself during this drought near a brook called Cherith near Jordan.

During that time of isolation God brought food miraculously to Elijah by way of ravens. He drank from the brook and was sustained. After a while, the drought he had prophesied also affected him and the brook dried up.

Elijah listened to God and was obedient to go to Cherith, but when the brook dried up, he might have thought, “Now what?” The brook is dried up.

God had a new assignment for Elijah. He spoke again and told him to go into the enemy’s country, to Zarephath, to a widow, who was ready to eat her last meal then die.

Elijah could have stayed by the brook, protected, isolated, and fed, but God had a different plan. He followed God’s plan. The widow would give Elijah her last meal, but in turn, God multiplied her oil and the meal in her barrel. This not only provided for her and her son, but also for Elijah. It was a miraculous provision.

Has your brook dried up where you once were sent by God? Are you holding on to “what once was” believing it will get better? I believe when the brook dries up that God has a new plan, a different plan, often hard to understand, but a plan that must be activated by our obedience to follow it and let go of “what once was.”

If Elijah hadn’t been obedient that woman and her son would have died of starvation. Not only was he provided for, but she was able to sell the oil that was in abundance.

Is it time to let go of what has dried up? Ask God, and if he says yes, be willing to give up “what was” for what is to come.