STRENGTH BEYOND CIRCUMSTANCES

My goal is to walk at least a mile each morning. One particular day, however, something unusual happened. Halfway through my walk, I became intensely hungry, far more than normal and completely out of character for me. My energy dropped, my pace slowed, and I found myself praying simply to make it home.

As I walked, my thoughts turned to Elijah. God had commanded him to hide by the Brook Cherith, where ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening. I was not hiding by a brook, and there were certainly no ravens in sight. More likely, my blood sugar had dropped. Still, I was deeply grateful when, with the Lord’s help, I finally reached home safely.

That walk reminded me of an important truth: while God may not send ravens today, He still provides strength, help, and endurance to reach our goals. Physical weakness, unexpected obstacles, and strange disruptions do not cancel God’s faithfulness. They often reveal it.

The raven is an interesting detail in Elijah’s story. It was considered an unclean bird, yet God used it to deliver clean food to His prophet. God was not limited by appearances, traditions, or expectations. He supplied Elijah in His own way, at His own time, without consulting anyone.

Sometimes God places us by our own “Brook Cherith” – a quiet, uncomfortable, or isolated season meant to prepare us for what comes next. For Elijah, that preparation led to Mount Carmel and the fire destroying the altar of Baal. For us, the “why” may not be immediately clear. We may never fully understand why we suffer, feel isolated, or face unexpected weakness. But this story assures us that God never fails us. He supplies what we need, when we need it, often in ways we would never choose, but always in ways that accomplish His purpose.

—G. Yarian