Is Our Passion Properly Balanced?

The Bible tells of a woman of Shunem who had no children. She was a notable woman and she and her husband cared for Elisha as God’s prophet. They made him a room and provided for his physical needs whenever he came to town. Because of her hospitality, Elisha sent his servant Gehazi to the woman to ask her what he could do in return.

It seemed unthinkable but in her heart, all she wanted was a son. And so the child was promised and the child was born. The woman had been granted her greatest wish. But as the child grew there was an episode one day while the boy was in the field and he died. The woman was devastated! She could not understand why God would grant her a son and then allow him to be taken away.

She immediately got on a donkey and went to find Elisha. The text says, “Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet…” (2 Kings 4:27). She fell at his feet. She was in distress. She was rock bottom. She was crying out to God and to His prophet desiring resolution, healing, and deliverance from her pain and grief.

We have all been there. We have all found ourselves so heavily burdened that all we can do is fall down and weep at the foot of God’s throne and beg for His mercy and grace to deliver us. We are associated with her pain to some degree.

There is good news. If you read the rest of the account you will find that Elisha raised the boy from the dead. The same God who gives life can also restore life. He is not bound by physical laws, for He created them. God alone has the power over the grave and this was demonstrated once and for all through Christ’s victory over the cross.

When we come to the feet of God we can expect that He will deliver us from so great a death. We may not be removed from its sting here on earth but all things will eventually work together for good for those who love the Lord (Rom. 8:28). This hope we have is an anchor to the soul.

But there is something more to be learned from the woman of Shunem. If you read closely to the end of the chapter, you will see why she was called a notable woman. After her son was raised, as the woman entered the room where Elisha was with her resurrected son, it says, “So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out” (2 Kings 4:38). She fell at Elisha’s feet again! But this time she fell for a different purpose. It was not because she was grieving! It was because she was thankful! Her passion for God was balanced between her askings and her receivings.

Are we as passionate about giving thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed as we are about the requests we make before His throne? Are we as humbled by His provisions as we are our problems? Are we as heartfelt about our gifts as we are our grief?

God is good to us. His mercy is new every morning. His faithfulness is great. It will never be a bad idea to stop and count our blessings.

Our passion for God must be balanced. Our worship should be as heartfelt as our weariness. Our prayers of appreciation should be as intense as our prayers for attention.

Try to play classic roulette.

“And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: ‘For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.’ Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.” – Ezra 3:11

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AUTHOR: Jeremiah Tatum