When The Brook Dries Up

"Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land."  
1 Kings 17:7 (NIV) 

What happens when the very provision God has given suddenly disappears? When the brook you've been drinking from runs dry? 

At 50, I experienced what seemed like a brook drying up. I left a church of 3000 people and started all over again with a core of about 200 people. It was the greatest bootcamp of my life. Through long days and tough nights, I faced the reality that if God didn’t come through–we wouldn’t make it. Though the brook seemed to have gone dry, God was preparing me for something new. 

Like Elijah, you will face moments when God's provision seems to have disappeared. It tests your commitment to the God life. In 1 Kings 17:7, Elijah faces a crisis when the brook God sent him to withered. 

God sometimes allows your source of provision to dry up, not to punish you but to move you to greater dependence and new opportunities. The same God who directed Elijah to the brook now had different plans—better plans—that would be revealed in His timing. 

When you lose your source of provision—whether it's a job, relationship, ministry opportunity, or health—remember that God hasn't forgotten you. He's preparing you for the next step in your journey. 

Can you identify any "brooks" in your life that have gone dry or are drying up? Instead of panicking, pray for God's direction and He will lead you to the next place of provision. Allow God to develop deeper trust through this season. 

This brook going dry isn't the end of your story–it's just the transition to the next chapter of God’s provision in your life.  

Prayer: Lord God, Thank You for Your constant provision. I know you always provide. When the brooks in my life run dry, help me not to panic or doubt Your goodness. Strengthen my confidence in You as my consistent source. Thank You that You never forget me, never forsake me, and never fail me. Lead me to the next place of provision You've prepared, and help me to trust You every step of the way. In Jesus' name, Amen.