She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a crust of bread.”  She said, “As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a few sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.”
1 Kings 17:11-12

Elijah requests bread and the widow responds by saying there is only enough for one last meal. It seems she has accepted this horrible situation and has no hope of a rescue.

The despair the widow feels is painful even to imagine. But we see hopelessness all around us. Perhaps we encounter it in our families, but definitely in our world.  When is it so far gone that we accept it as inevitable? However, there is a way through this despair.

Isn’t it true that when we help others, we also feel blessed? It feels good to give and it makes us happy to serve others.  And God calls us to love everyone, just as he loves and blesses us. Whom can you bless by giving them your attention, love, or time? Pray for our world, that all who despair will feel God’s love surround them today.