A story on 60 Minutes reported how people in Holland don’t need hurricane insurance, even though their country is one of the most flood-prone places in the world. The report says the reason they don’t need insurance is that they’ve built and tested barriers to keep water from flooding and destroying lives and property as it once did. Experts are confident their barriers will hold. We know Almighty God often uses a different kind of test to prepare His children for His purposes. One example comes from the life of Elijah, found in 1 Kings Chapter 17. Elijah suddenly appears on the scene about to undergo a test by God Almighty—a test that will prepare him for a unique prophetic ministry during the days of wicked King Ahab. The test consisted of trusting God to supply him food while a famine raged in the land. The ravens came twice a day to bring food. We learn from his experience that God is not limited in the ways He can meet our needs. God is so creative that He often answers our prayers in ways we never envisioned. It is not for us to decide how God tests, deals with us or answers our prayers. He wants us to trust and obey Him, knowing His love will never fail.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
