The Breaking Point


So many are finding themselves at a very critical place in this season. . A place where they feel they are about to break.  Their breaking point.  Let's look at the definition for the term breaking point (taken from thefreedictionary.com)

Breaking point:
1. The point at which physical, mental, or emotional strength gives way under stress.
2. The point at which a condition or situation becomes critical.

We are going to read about a woman in the word of God, who found herself at her own breaking point. Go with me to 1 Kings 17:8-16.

"(8)And the word of the Lord came to him:  (9)Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.  (10)So he arose and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her, Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.  (11)As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, Bring  me a morsel of bread in your hand.  (12)And she said, As the Lord your God lives, I have not a loaf baked but only a handful of meal in the jar and a little oil in the bottle. See, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it--and die.  (13)Elijah said to her, Fear not; go and do as you have said.  But make me a little cake of [it] first and bring it to me, and afterward prepare some for yourself and your son.(14)  For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: The jar of meal  shall not waste away or the bottle of oil fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.(15)  She did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate  for many days.  (16)The jar of meal was not spent nor did the bottle of oil fail, according to the word which the Lord spoke through Elijah," (1 Kings 17:8-16 AMP).

When we read the beginning of the text (verse 9), we see how God told Elijah that He had commanded a widow to provide for him. The word commanded in this passage of text means to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, and order.

So basically, this woman was ordered, commissioned, and chosen by God to be a source of supernatural provision for Elijah. It was already ordained of God that the same widow woman, who had just a handful of meal, and was literally preparing for what she thought was her end, would be a blessing.

But, there was just one little thing. She didn't know it. 

Her circumstances, her meal jar and bottle of oil told her otherwise. Her circumstances said,  

"This is all you have." 
"You and your son are going to die."

She couldn't see herself as a blessing because all she saw was lack, and death. And because of what she saw, her words and her actions were in agreement with that. 

But God is so gracious. Even though she was preparing for one thing, God said "No! I've prepared something else."

Even though difficult circumstances may be telling you to prepare for one end, God is saying, "No!" He has an expected end, and an amazing purpose for your life. 

God spoke to Elijah and told him what He had purposed for this woman. God never said anything about her handful of meal. It did not move Him. He spoke regarding her end. His purposes. Because He is the God who declares the end from the beginning. 

Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish, (Isaiah 46:10, NLT). 

God has already declared your end. But, the tactic of the enemy is to cause you to declare another end based on your "right now." He wants you to make declarations based on difficult circumstances and fear. 

Ladies, with all you have within you, you must believe God. 

This woman didn't know that God had already set a plan in place- which was far greater than what she was currently experiencing- because all she could see was the bottom of her barrel and a tragic end. 

And there are many people who are just like this widow woman.

They're looking at the 'bottom of their barrel.' Looking at what they don't seemingly have and living each day according to their circumstances. Because circumstances do speak, and they are loud. Circumstances scream at us, "Hey! Live your life according to what you see right now!"

And people live according to what they see, missing out on the greater God has purposed for them. 

We are not called to live a mundane life, dictated and controlled by what we see in the natural. 

"For we live by believing and not by seeing," (2 Corinthians 5:7, NLT).

We must live by faith. 

I know you've heard the expression, "What you see is what you get." Well, that does not apply to us. 

We have what God says we have. Not our circumstances.  

God has already decreed and established your end. Trust that His plans are greater than what the natural eye can see. 



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About the Author :

Pastor Pamela Bell is a passionate, lover of God, who desires to see God's people walk in the knowledge of who they are in Christ. She resides in Mobile, AL and serves as an Elder at her church, Gulf Coast Christian Center. Pastor Pamela enjoys reading, spending time with friends and all things chocolate.

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