Does it seem as if the promises God has given you have died?  The woman, whose story we have been following in 2 Kings 4, must have felt like that.  God had promised her a son, and now that son lay lifeless in the room she had built for the prophet Elisha. She told no-one, not even her husband, as she rode from the village of Shunem to Mount Carmel on her donkey. 

 

Elisha saw her coming and sent his servant to meet her.  “Are you all right?  Is your husband all right?  Is your son all right?” The woman simply replied, “Everything is all right.”  Incredible!  It wasn’t!

 

In the Hebrew language the word that is used here is ‘shalom’.  She was saying, “All is well.  There is peace.”  How could she say that?  Because she had peace in her heart.  Isn’t that what God has promised us?  Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”  In Philippians 4:7 it says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

In the midst of an impossible situation the Shunammite woman held onto the promise God had given her.  She had peace, a peace that gave her strength and courage not to give up.  Perhaps you are facing circumstances in your life that seem contrary to what God has promised.  It seems as if your hopes have died.  Jesus promised to give us peace that the world cannot give.  It is a super-natural peace, a peace that comes from him.

 

How can you receive it?  Put your trust in him and be careful what you confess with your lips.  Isaiah 26 says that the Lord will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are fixed on him and we put out trust in him.  The woman did this, and she saw God work on her behalf.  He will do that for you too as his Word declares,  “The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving towards all he has made.”  That includes you!