Have you ever had your hopes raised, only to find them broken to pieces?  We have been following the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4.  Elisha had said she would have a son, but now her son was dead.

 

She had journeyed to Mount Carmel by donkey.  On seeing Elisha she fell at his feet and cried out,  “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?  Didn’t I tell you don’t raise my hopes?”  Those hopes now lay in ruins.  Yet she held on in faith.  

 

Elisha sent his servant Gehazi to lay his staff on the boy.  When he did nothing happened!  Why not? 

 

We are not told, but it is interesting that Gehazi’s name means ‘denier or diminisher’.  If we deny or diminish the power of God we may not see what he can do.

 

The Word of God tells us to persevere to receive the promises of God, and this woman certainly did.  She insisted Elisha go with her.  “As surely as the Lord lives … I will not leave you.”  Elisha went, lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes and hands to hands.  Suddenly the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.  Can you imagine the woman’s face as she entered the room?

 

In Hebrews 10:35-36 it says, “So do not throw away your confidence;  it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what he has promised.”

 

Can you identify with this woman?  Don’t give up, don’t throw away your hope – hold on, even if it is by a thread for God promises, ‘hope does not disappoint us’ and that our faith ‘will be richly rewarded.’  Amen!