When Faith Meets Expectation: What God Showed Me Through 2 Kings 4:1–7

There’s a story in 2 Kings 4:1–7 that hit me in a completely new way tonight. It’s the story of a widow who was in a desperate situation, overwhelmed, afraid, and facing loss she couldn’t fix on her own. When she went to the prophet, Elisha for help, he asked her a simple question:

“What do you have in your house?” She answered, “Nothing… except a jar of oil.”

Elisha told her to go borrow empty vessels, “and do not gather just a few.”

He didn’t give her a number.

He didn’t limit her.

He didn’t spell out the miracle.

What I realized was that the size of her blessing was directly tied to her level of faith and expectation. So...as she gathered the vessels and began to pour, the oil kept flowing until she ran out of jars.

The miracle didn’t stop until her expectation stopped.

What God Showed Me Through This Story

As I read this passage, something clicked for me, I recognized pieces of my own story. It was a reflection of what God has been teaching me about my marriage, my purpose, and my life.

Here’s what i noticed:

1. Acknowledge What You Do Have. God Can Use It!

The widow didn’t come to Elisha with a long list of strengths. She came with honesty: “I only have a jar of oil.”

For me, this looked like acknowledging:

• My marriage was broken.

• My purpose felt unclear.

• My life wasn’t where I wanted it to be.

But I also acknowledged what I did have:

• faith

• wisdom

• influence

• a positive spirit

• a desire to help people

• a heart willing to grow

This story proves, God doesn’t need much. He just needs something surrendered.

2. Surrender It to God

The widow didn’t cling to the little oil she had left. She didn’t protect it out of fear or try to control the outcome. She obeyed and placed it fully in God’s hands.

That act of surrender is where the miracle began.

I realized I had to do the same.

I had to stop holding on to things out of fear, pride, or self-protection, and instead place them before God.

So I surrendered:

• my marriage

• my dreams and purpose

• my timeline

• the image of how I thought my life "should" unfold

Surrender isn’t giving up control because you’ve lost hope.

Surrender is trust. It’s simply an act of faith

3. Make Space for God to Pour

Elisha told her to get empty jars. Not small ones, Not a few, but as many as she had the faith to gather.

In my life, making space looked like:

• staying in God’s Word

• praying even when nothing changed yet

• speaking life into my marriage

• creating an environment where God was welcome

• staying open to His purpose instead of forcing my own

Making space is preparation. It’s expectation.

4. Obedience Activates the Miracle

If the widow had only gathered two jars, she would have only received two jars worth of oil. The flow of the miracle was directly connected to her obedience. God was willing to pour! But, how much she received depended on how she followed instruction, her faith, & expectation.

This challenged me.

I realized that obedience isn’t just about doing what God says, it’s about continuing to do it even when the outcome isn’t clear yet. Even when you haven't seen any results yet.

For me, obedience looked like:

• loving when I didn’t feel like it

• staying planted when walking away looked easier

• choosing patience

• pursuing purpose even without clarity

• showing up as the woman God was shaping me to be

Obedience isn’t always easy, but it’s always fruitful.

5. Expect Big! Because God Does Not Think Small!

That line, “Do not gather just a few”, God was basically telling her: Don’t limit what I can do. This was a big reminder for me!

In my marriage, I had to expect more than survival. I had to expect restoration, unity, and healing.

For my purpose, I had to expect more than “maybe one day”. I had to expect that God could use my gifts, personality, and faith in ways I couldn’t imagine.

In my life in general, I had to expect more than just getting by. I had to expect overflow. Abundance! Joy! Peace! Blessings!

This story reminded me: God will fill whatever you bring Him. If you bring a little expectation, you’ll receive a little. If you bring big expectation, you'll receive Big!

The Lesson: Bring Your Empty Jars

Whatever area of your life feels empty; marriage, purpose, confidence, motherhood, finances, self-worth , health— bring it to God!

Bring it surrendered. Bring it expecting.

The oil didn’t stop flowing because God ran out. It stopped because she did.

What empty jars am I holding back?

What area of your life have you stopped expecting God to fill?

If this message encouraged you, I invite you to subscribe so you don’t miss future reflections, teachings, and faith-filled encouragement for women who are growing, waiting, and becoming. We’re walking this journey together.