Elijah’s Prayer For A Child’s Life

Elijah cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”

1 Kings 17:20-22

Though she had nothing to feed herself and her son, the widow of Zarephath had taken Elijah in as an extra mouth to feed during a time of famine and trusted God to provide. And indeed, God saw them through. Later, the woman’s son became ill and died. So Elijah turned immediately to the Lord and pleaded for the child’s life. God heard Elijah’s plea and raised the poor widow’s son, showing that every individual is important in the eyes of God.

Take some time to pray for someone who is experiencing heartache or tragedy in his or her life. Pray that God may apply his life-giving power to that situation. We can pray for anyone—no matter how poor, no matter how important—for God cares about that person.

• O Lord, why have you brought tragedy on . . .