It Shall Be Well: A Testament of Faith in Troubling Times
"And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well." - 2 Kings 4:23
In the journey of faith, there are moments when life’s challenges test our resolve and understanding. One such poignant moment is captured in 2 Kings 4:23, where the Shunammite woman, despite facing the devastating loss of her only son, declares with unwavering faith, "It shall be well." This verse, filled with profound implications, not only reveals the depth of her faith but also sets a template for us on how to respond to crisis.
At this point in the narrative, the Shunammite woman had already experienced the miraculous: she was given a son despite her barrenness, all through the ministry of the prophet Elisha. But when tragedy struck, her world was turned upside down. The emotional agony of losing her child could have led her to despair. Instead, in the face of what seemed to be insurmountable sorrow, she chose to speak words of hope and assurance.
The inquiry of her husband reveals the cultural norms of their time. "Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath." (2 Kings 4:23 KJV). The new moon and the Sabbath were designated times for worship and seeking the Lord, highlighting the importance of these practices in their spiritual lives. However, the woman’s determination to seek Elisha, regardless of the day, signifies a deep urgency and faith that transcended ritualistic observances. It illustrates a crucial point for us today: when life’s storms rage, our need for God often becomes the most pressing agenda, irrespective of our schedules or societal expectations.
When she responds to her husband, "It shall be well," she embodies a faith that refuses to yield to fear. Her words resonate with an inner conviction that her situation, although dire, does not have the final say over her life or her son’s fate. This declaration is not merely an optimistic statement but a profound expression of trust in God's sovereign power. By stating, "It shall be well," she speaks life into a situation that appeared hopeless. Her faith is anchored not in the visible circumstances but in the unchanging nature of God.
Faith, as demonstrated by the Shunammite woman, is often most visible when it seems least plausible. When we find ourselves in valleys of despair or moments of confusion, we are challenged to echo her words. Perhaps you are facing health issues, relationship troubles, financial crises, or spiritual desolation. In these moments, when everything seems to be crumbling, it is essential to affirm with your mouth what your heart believes: "It shall be well."
Moreover, the story does not end there. In the following verses, the Shunammite woman reaches Elisha and lays her burdens at his feet. Her faith was not just a passive belief; it inspired her to act. It reminds us that faith is active. It compels us toward prayer, seeking counsel, or confronting our challenges rather than succumbing to despair.
As we meditate on this scripture, consider the areas of your life where speaking faith can transform your outlook. Each day may bring its load of worries, but we can choose to meet them with the confessional response of the Shunammite woman.
Let us pray this week for a heart that sees beyond the present pain and declares with courage: "It shall be well." May we cultivate an unwavering spirit that trusts in God’s ultimate plan, knowing that He is faithful to those who look to Him in their darkest hours. Like the Shunammite woman, may our faith speak louder than our fears, and may we find comfort in the promise that with God, it truly shall be well.
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2 Kings 4:23 - "And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well."
"And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well." - 2 Kings 4:23
2 Kings 23:23 - "But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem."
2 Kings 8:23 - "And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
1 Kings 4:23 - "Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl."
2 Kings 23:22 - "Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;"
2 Kings 4:4-5
2 Kings 23:28 - "Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 3:23 - "And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil."
2 Kings 23:1 - "And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem."
2 Kings 21:23 - "¶ And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house."
2 Kings 9:23 - "And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah."
"But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem." - 2 Kings 23:23
2 Kings 23:4 - "And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Beth-el."
2 Kings 23:37 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done."
2 Kings 23:32 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done."
2 Kings 23:11 - "And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire."
2 Kings 23:21 - "¶ And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant."
2 Kings 23:7 - "And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove."
2 Kings 10:4 - "But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?"
2 Chronicles 9:23 - "¶ And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart."
2 Kings 15:23 - "¶ In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years."
2 Kings 23:9 - "Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren."
2 Kings 23:14 - "And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men." The image should not depict explicit or offensive content but be symbolic.
2 Kings 23:20 - "And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem."
"And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?" - 2 Kings 8:23
Generate Image of Valley of Hinnom With 2 kings 23 verse 10 quoeted within it
"Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl." - 1 Kings 4:23
2 Kings 4:11 - "And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there."
1 Kings 2:23 - "Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life."