“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bore a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? It is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.”
Several times a day I get asked the question, “How are you doing?” My usual response is “fine.” When in all actuality, things are not fine at all. I don’t want to be one of those people who tells a sad life story, but many times we are not doing well at all when we say “it is well.”
This Shunammite woman was facing a very difficult time. She has just lost her only child. The boy was the fulfillment of the prophecy of the man of God. He was a miracle child. Now he is dead. Things are not fine, or well. It is okay not to be okay, and in this life we are going to have trouble, be hurt, etc. But the woman’s response in verse 23 should become our response in every tough situation. “It shall be well.” When we view things from this point of view, we demonstrate:
“It shall be well” should ring from our lips at all times, no matter what the circumstances.
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
There are few things more magical than dreaming of exchanging vows amidst the breathtaking scenery…