from running out to running over
"There is only a handful of flour in my jar." —1 Kings 17:12
Food was running out for the widow of Zarephath. She knew she had only one meal left before she and her son died of hunger. Hoping against hope (Rm 4:18), she believed God's promises through the prophet Elijah, and saw the Lord multiply her food for a year (1 Kgs 17:16).
Time was running out for Moses' mother. She knew her baby boy had only moments left to live before he would be found and murdered. Hoping against hope, she prolonged the inevitable by placing her baby boy in a basket on the river (Ex 2:3). God rescued Moses through the most unlikely source: the daughter of the man who ordered Moses' murder (Ex 2:6ff).
What is running out in your life? Are your teenage children running out of faith? Is your marriage running out of love? Are you running out of energy, time, or money? When something is running out in your life, that's when the Lord is running to you (see Lk 15:20; Sg 2:8; Wis 18:15).
Therefore, never run away from your problems. Keep persevering and hoping against hope, right to the very end. "You have no idea what kind of life will be yours tomorrow" (Jas 4:14). The Lord often works wonders for His faithful ones (Ps 4:4) in the final moment (see Jn 2:10). He can change your mourning into dancing (Ps 30:12), your emptiness into fullness (Jn 10:10), and your running out into running over (Ps 23:5).
Prayer: Father, "I will always hope" (Ps 71:14). Give me the grace of final perseverance.
Promise: "The Lord does wonders for His faithful one."—Ps 4:4
Praise: St. Anthony of Padua was called not to preach to pagans but to Christians who had run out on Christ.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 12, 2005
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