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A sign of spiritual maturity is the ability to have a servant’s heart toward others and a grateful heart toward God, even when a deep desire remains unmet.

I know several people who fit this description. There is the desire for finding a kind, Christian spouse. There is the desire to be a parent. There is the desire for spiritual restoration of young adult children.

I pray for these people. For they are good people doing good things with good motives.

It would be good if God poured out His good will into their lives by means of granting their hearts’ desires.

I was reminded of this hope today during my devotional reading.

In 2 Kings 4:8-17, we read of the prophet Elisha and how a wealthy Shunnamite woman persuaded her aged husband to provide accommodations for Elisha and his servant Gehazi whenever they were passing through her part of Israel.

There is no explanation given as to why the woman was so interested in supporting Elisha’s ministry, but the inference is that she deeply loved the Lord and wanted to support ministry efforts.

Elisha was grateful for the hospitality and during one of his stops, he inquired as to how he could intercede in her behalf with the Lord.

‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” (verse 13).

The unnamed woman didn’t see Elisha’s question as a blank check to be used for getting all that she wanted.

Instead, she saw the question as an opportunity to affirm her contentment with the family and practical blessings she already had.

“She replied, ‘I have a home among my own people.’” (verse 14).

I’m impressed AND humbled.

I just might have answered, “Well, Elisha, now that you mention it, I would like to have ______________ and ______________ and …..”

But not this woman. She was content with what she had, even though she was carrying a deep, unmet desire.

Elisha did not let his desire to bless her tarry.

He asked his servant Gehazi what might be done and was told that the woman had no son and that her husband was old.

Think about this for a moment. Social pressure upon women then to have a son was often oppressive and barren women were often seen as failures.

She had to have heard all sorts of snide remarks over the years about not providing her husband an heir, yet she maintained a good attitude toward God and supporting godly ministry. What a good lesson for us all, regardless of our personal circumstances.

Elisha told the woman that she would be holding a child within a year.

Understandably, she asked him to stop saying things to get her hopes up.

A year later, though, she was holding her baby boy.

Wow.

Because she was content with her life and committed to her faith — without the baby — God sent His favor into her life in a way that met one of her deepest desires and that provided a huge testimony to the community about the value of a humble, contented faith.

Please, regardless of your deepest unmet desires, be content with the Lord’s blessings and committed to the Lord’s service.

If God sees both humbly demonstrated in your life, you’ll be in a better position to receive an outpouring of blessing that will fill that unmet desire in a manner to overflows in praise and testimony for Him.

We just have to be patient.

The Shunnamite woman was, and look how she was blessed.

As always, I love you
Martin

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One Response to “Morning Devotion: Contentment amidst missing dreams”

  1. Tresa Walker says:

    I enjoyed this devotion, and it was help as I prepared to teach a lesson on these scriptures. Thanks for sharing.

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