Why God Doesn’t Always Give You the Finished Product
“So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.” – 1 Kings 17:15-16 NKJV
The flour and the oil = raw materials
God did not just give her bread to eat; He supplied her with the raw materials she needed, but it was her responsibility to take those raw materials and make something out of them.
Raw materials – unprocessed or minimally processed materials used as inputs in the production of goods.
It is the basic substance or resources that are transformed into finished products.
They are essential for production of goods.
They are starting point for creating various goods and services.
Our responsibility is to take the raw materials that God gives us or has already given us and turn them into goods and services that will sustain us and serve others.
Sometimes we miss our provision because we keep waiting on God to provide us with the bread, the finished product.
We end up frustrated, saying God does not provide.
But God says, “But I already did.”
God asked Moses, “what is in your hands?”
Essentially, He was saying, Moses, use the raw materials I have already given you that is in your hands
You must open your eyes and see the raw materials God has already made available to you.
How to Identify Your Raw Materials
Your raw materials are your gifts and talents
Prayer
In prayer, God will reveal things to you.
The Word
God will speak to you through His word
You will find that you resonate with some things.
For example, one of the ways I knew I was called to be an Inspirational Speaker was confirmed when I was reading the book of Acts and read about Barnabas (the son of encouragement). My spirit resonated deeply with that scripture. I couldn’t shake it off. If you check my bible, particularly my AMP bible, you will see so many markings, highlights, and notes I made just on that short verse. I remember thinking, well Enna, everyone is an encourager. But then the Holy Spirit made me realize that if everyone was, then Barnabas wouldn’t be specifically called out as the son of encourager. Then I read something Joyce Meyer said, that, encouraging someone doesn’t come naturally to us, it is something that must be done intentionally and cultivated, but some people are gifted with it. At that moment, it all became very clear to me.
So, what do you resonate with strongly in the bible?
And it may be that in different seasons, you resonate with different characters like Moses, Joseph, Abraham etc.
What has God being whispering to you in the stillness of your heart?
What to Do with Your Raw Materials
Cultivate and develop it, turning it into goods and services.
Turn it into profit - 2 Kings 4 – the widow’s oil.
Serve others with it.
Serve God with it.
Take care of yourself and family with it.
If you’ve been frustrated…
If you’ve been waiting…
If you’ve been questioning God’s provision…
I want to challenge you today to stop asking, “God, when will You give me bread?”
And start asking:
“God, what flour and oil have You already given me?”
Because when you recognize the raw materials—and take responsibility for stewarding them—you’ll realize…
God has already provided. He is not withholding provision from you.
And then ask yourself:
“What am I doing with what God has already placed in my hands?”
And when you cultivate it, serve with it, honor God through it, and allow it to sustain your life and family—you will begin to see that the raw materials were always more than enough.
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