突如其來的試煉
列王紀上十七章17至24節
17這事以後，作那家主母的婦人，他兒子病了；病得甚重，以致身無氣息。
18婦人對以利亞說：神人哪，我與你何干？你竟到我這裡來，使神想念我的罪，以致我的兒子死呢？
19以利亞對他說：把你兒子交給我。以利亞就從婦人懷中將孩子接過來，抱到他所住的樓中，放在自己的床上，
20就求告耶和華說：耶和華─我的神啊，我寄居在這寡婦的家裡，你就降禍與他，使他的兒子死了麼？
21以利亞三次伏在孩子的身上，求告耶和華說：耶和華─我的神啊，求你使這孩子的靈魂仍入他的身體！
22耶和華應允以利亞的話，孩子的靈魂仍入他的身體，他就活了。
23以利亞將孩子從樓上抱下來，進屋子交給他母親，說：看哪，你的兒子活了！
24婦人對以利亞說：現在我知道你是神人，耶和華藉你口所說的話是真的。
信息分享
也許，我們大多數人遇到飛來橫禍，或突然而來的逆境，也會發出類似的呼喊。有些時候，當試煉接踵而至，我們便很容易會抱怨說：「我已經受夠了！為甚麼每次都是我！」面對接二連三的苦難，確實令人難以忍受。
然而，以利亞卻以無比的信心來面對這試煉。請看第19節。信心帶來甚麼功效呢？信心使他得以冷靜地面對危機。我們相信，以利亞面對當時的情景，一定很激動；但他卻認識他所相信的神，他知道神容許這個試煉臨到，一定是為了他和那位寡婦的益處（參羅馬書八章28節）。
接著，信心使他敢於把試煉帶到神的面前（18、20節）。神是以利亞的避難所。他可能有一大堆疑問，但他卻知道他只能夠將問題帶到神的面前。我們是否這樣做呢？或是，我們總是先向別人求助？信心促使他求神化解危機；信心促使人懇求神。
以利亞認識神的大能，他求神行一個史無前例的神蹟，他大膽地求神使那個男童起死回生。這是何等大膽的請求！反觀我們，我們總是不敢求神成就大事。但以利亞卻不然！他求神不下雨，神便不下雨；他求神使男童復活，他便活過來；他求神從天上降火，神便降火；他求神下雨，神就再下雨。因此，當情況真的需要，我們不應害怕向神求那更大的事。
神應允以利亞的禱告，使男童起死回生之後，還有甚麼事情發生呢？寡婦相信了以利亞的神。這是非信徒最需要的見證：我們祈禱，神便應允我們的祈求，非信徒便看見神的工作。這也是引領他們認識基督的途徑。我們所信的對象，是一位偉大的神。定睛在祂身上吧！
在神凡事都能。
AN UNEXPECTED TRIAL
1 Kings 17:17-24
17 Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him.
18 So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?”
19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.
20 Then he cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?”
21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.”
22 Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.
23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!”
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth.”
Message
Can you imagine the scene in that home in Zarephath? Can you hear the widow's questions? "What have I done to deserve this? First my husband died. Now my only child dies too. Why has God done this to me?"
Many of us may have had that same attitude in various situations. There have been times when one trial, one test after another, has piled in on top of us. How easy it is to think then, "I've had enough! Why me anyway?" Those occasions are not easy to endure.
But what comes through is Elijah's faith. Notice verse 19. What does faith do? Faith keeps calm in a crisis. No doubt Elijah was deeply moved. Yet he knew his God and that this further test had been allowed for their good. (See Ro 8:28)
Next, faith takes the trial to God (vv.18, 20). That was Elijah's place of refuge. He might have questions but he knew to whom he could take them - to God Himself. Do we always do that or do we take our questions to everyone else first? Faith asks God to resolve the crisis. Faith asks God to do what is needed in the situation.
Elijah knew the power of his God. He asked for a miracle that had never happened before. He dared to ask God to bring the boy back to life. What a request! We are sometimes afraid to ask God for big things. Elijah wasn't. He asked for a drought. God sent it. He asked for resurrection. God gave it. He asked for fire from heaven. God let it fall. He asked for rain. God allowed it to come again. Don't be afraid to ask God for big things, if that is what is really needed.
God answered Elijah's prayer and what was the result? The woman believed in Elijah's God. That is what speaks to the unbelievers. We pray, God answers and they see what God can do. It could be the means of bringing them to Christ. Our faith is in a great God. Keep your eyes on Him.
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.