“It Is Well” by Anitha Abraham

In today’s episode, you’ll hear a devotion written by Anitha Abraham based on 2 Kings 4:26, which says, “Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ And she answered, ‘It is well’” (NASB1995).

We hope today’s devotion encourages you that even when we don’t know the outcome of our situation, we do know our God, and we can trust He is up to something good.

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What is Encouragement for Today Podcast?

Life can be so challenging sometimes — we each understand this all too well. It’s not only the big things that seem out of our control, but it's also the little things we face each day. We forget our keys. A friend cancels on us. Our bank card gets declined. We wake up anxious. Negative thoughts fill our mind. It doesn’t take much to leave us feeling hopeless, confused, exhausted or stressed. We wonder what God has to say about what we’re experiencing, but sometimes just getting through the next few hours is hard enough. That’s why Proverbs 31 Ministries created the Encouragement For Today Podcast — a collection of 50 devotions to help you start your day with a biblical perspective you can carry with you no matter what lies ahead.

My husband, Lance, likes to think he has me all figured out. Admittedly, he pretty much does … 19 years of marriage will do that to you. It’s reciprocated because I know him pretty well, too. Something happened recently that proved it.

Our family had gone out for lunch to celebrate my sister-in-law’s birthday. The restaurant was packed as it usually is on a Sunday afternoon. Our waitress, who happened to be seven months pregnant, made every effort to ensure we enjoyed our meal. In spite of how busy she was, she remained kind, gracious and attentive.

Once the bill and gratuity were paid, we all stepped out of the restaurant and began walking to our cars. Then, my husband motioned he was going inside again but would be right back.

As soon as he left, I knew exactly what he was doing. If you know Lance, you might be thinking something along the lines of ordering another dessert. That was not the case, at least not this time. Instead, he returned to give our waitress an additional tip. Now, granted, this wasn’t a “you-can-quit-your-job-now” sized gift, but just a little something extra to express our appreciation.

My husband is generous in every sense of the word, so this fits right in line with what I know about him. I saw it coming a mile away, and he didn’t have to say anything.

Knowing him and his character assures me I can trust what he is doing even if I don’t always understand.
I began thinking about others whom I know that well and about my view of God.

There have been times in my life when God and I did not appear to be on the same page. I was ready to move forward, but He seemed fine leaving me right where I was. His supposed “inactivity” made me wonder if He’d forgotten about me.

Sometimes, that is how life feels … like God has deserted us and we need to figure out this season on our own. But that goes against the very essence of who He is.

In 2 Kings 4:8-37, we find the story of Elisha the Prophet, the Shunammite woman, and her longed-for baby boy. When her son is grown, he falls ill and dies, and the Shunammite woman goes in search of Elisha. In our key verse, Elisha sends his servant to greet the woman when he sees her from a distance: “Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ And she answered, ‘It is well’” (2 Kings 4:26). The significance of those three words, “It is well,” is in the timing. She uttered that phrase after watching her son die in her arms.

How does a mother — who finally had the child she always wanted, only to lose him — say something like that? For this heartbroken woman, “It is well” was not a catchy little phrase or even the title of a song she sang in church.

It was a declaration. She might not have known the outcome, but she did know her God.
The Shunammite woman experienced a miracle in her situation — God, through Elisha, brought her son back to life. However, our belief in God isn’t based on whether or not He will always do what we want. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and they’re beyond our comprehension. It is about having faith in His faithfulness, trusting His heart and knowing His character. Even when it seems He has walked away, and we’re left wondering and waiting, we can cling to the promise He is up to something good.
After all, we know Him pretty well, don’t we?

Dear God, thank You for being a good Father I can trust. I might not always understand Your ways, but I know You love me, and You are working all things out for my good. Your past faithfulness in my life reminds me I can depend on You now and have confident hope for my future. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.