2 Kings 4:26. “. . . ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ And she answered, ‘It is well.'”
How do you respond when things in your world fall apart? The natural reaction is to panic when disaster strikes, but what if there were another response?
Raising godly children in this culture is not an easy job. The distractions of the media, school requirements, reading material, dress styles, and even the influence of friends and peers can wreak havoc on our attempts to keep them safe and God-focused. In considering all the physical, emotional, and spiritual dangers lurking about, it is tempting to resort to panic. We attempt to control as many aspects of their lives as possible. Is there really any hope that our children will make it to adulthood unharmed? A story in 2 Kings gave me a new way of responding when my heart would naturally hit the panic button. Listen to this mother’s response to a tragedy that shook her world.
A prominent woman from the land of Shunem believed in God and was very kind to His prophet, Elisha. Whenever he came through her town she would offer him a place to stay. Over time she decided to build him his own room so that he would have a comfortable place to relax when he was in the area. Elisha wanted to repay her for her kindness and, realizing that she did not have any children, he asked God to give her a son. God granted his request and a number of months later she gave birth to a baby boy whom she loved and cherished dearly.
One day while he was working in the fields with his father, the young man developed a raging headache. The servants brought him in to his mother where he lay suffering with his head in her lap. Tragically, at noon he died. This woman must have been experiencing terrible grief, but in the midst of her pain she lay the youth on his bed, saddled her donkey, and went to find the man of God. As she was leaving, her husband asked her where she was going. Her only reply was, “It will be well.”
Upon reaching Mount Carmel, the man of God saw her from a distance and sent his servant, Gehazi, to greet her. When the servant approached, he asked, “Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?” Right about now most of us would have had an emotional breakdown. But I am astounded by this mom’s response. She had just lost her only child and yet her answer to these inquiries was, “It is well.”
Her only child, her son, was dead! How could all be well?
This woman had great faith. God had given her this son and she believed that even in the midst of a devastating situation everything would be all right. Instead of focusing on the circumstance she chose to focus on the One Who had control over every situation. All was well because she knew and trusted God’s sovereign will and power in her life as well as the life of her son.
God saw her faith and rewarded it. Elisha, the man of God, went home with this grieving mother. After he prayed and stretched his body out over the boy, God restored the young man to life again and the woman went out with joy.
I have never experienced the death of a child, but I have endured other heart-wrenching experiences as I have walked the road of motherhood. It is something that you just can’t escape. For years I have lived with regular feelings of worry and panic controlling my life, but through the faith of this woman I have learned another way to handle crisis.
When tragedy or unforeseen circumstances threaten to undo my world; when influences that can so easily sway my children in the wrong direction seem to be gaining a foothold; when things don’t go the way I had hoped or planned, I try not to hit the panic button. Instead, I focus my mind on the God Who can make all things right. I choose to make my response be the words of this trusting woman: “All is well!”
How is this possible? When we recognize that our God has complete control over all that happens, and when we understand His heart of love for our children and us, we can remove our finger from the panic button. Though our problems may not be solved in a miraculous way we must know and believe that God has our best interest at heart and He will provide the comfort and love we need as we travel a difficult road.
Don’t hit the panic button. There is another way. In the most distressing of circumstances, ask God to give you the peace and the ability to say with this faith-filled mother, “All is well!” Relinquish all control to Him and watch what He will do.
Are you living in a state of panic as you seek to raise your children in an ungodly world? Are you struggling with an illness or lamenting a wayward child?
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