The God Who Walks in Human Steps
Verses: 1 Kings 17:7,9
"And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.'"
There is a common misconception that if God is with us, everything in our lives will be perfect—free from hardship, need, or crisis. Some even accuse God’s servants of lacking faith or favor when they face struggles, as if suffering is evidence of God’s absence. But the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17 challenges this flawed perspective. It reveals a profound truth: when God walks with us, He does so in human steps, not in the grandiose, otherworldly ways we might expect. He meets us in our ordinary, often difficult circumstances, walking alongside us in the midst of our struggles.
Elijah’s journey is a powerful illustration of this truth. God could have provided for Elijah in a lavish, miraculous way, shielding him from all hardship. Instead, He led Elijah to the brook at Cherith, where he drank from the stream and was fed by ravens. When the brook dried up, God directed him to Zarephath, a place of scarcity, where a widow would provide for him. These were not glamorous or comfortable paths, but they were the steps God chose for Elijah. In doing so, God demonstrated that He is not distant or detached from our human experience. He walks with us in our struggles, meeting us where we are.
This truth is echoed throughout Scripture. God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. He walked with Enoch so closely that Enoch was taken up to heaven without experiencing death. He called Abraham to walk with Him, leading him to an unknown land. In each of these examples, God did not remove His servants from the challenges of life. Instead, He walked with them through those challenges, showing His presence and provision in the midst of their ordinary, often difficult circumstances.
It is easy to fall into the trap of expecting a life of ease and abundance as evidence of God’s favor. We may even fabricate a false image of a “heavenly” life, filled with wealth and comfort, to prove that God is with us. But this is not the way of God. He does not call us to a life of luxury or perfection on earth. Instead, He invites us to walk with Him in the midst of our struggles, trusting that His presence is enough. The life of Elijah reminds us that God’s servants are not exempt from hardship. In fact, their struggles often become the very means through which God reveals His power and faithfulness.
We must be careful not to underestimate or judge those who live ordinary, even difficult lives. The widow of Zarephath, who was struggling to feed herself and her son, became God’s instrument to provide for Elijah. Her humble circumstances did not diminish her value or her role in God’s plan. Similarly, we should never equate material wealth or comfort with spiritual favor. God’s presence is not measured by the absence of struggle but by His faithfulness in the midst of it.
God’s willingness to walk with us in our human steps is a profound expression of His love. He does not demand that we rise to His level of perfection before He will accompany us. Instead, He condescends to our level, meeting us in our weakness and walking with us through our trials. This is the beauty of His relationship with us. He is not a distant, unapproachable God but a loving Father who draws near to His children in their time of need.
As we reflect on Elijah’s journey, let us remember that God’s ways are not our ways. He may not lead us down paths of ease and comfort, but He will always walk with us, step by step, through every challenge we face. Let us not seek a fabricated, “heavenly” life on earth but instead embrace the ordinary, trusting that God’s presence is enough. He is lovely when He walks with us, not because He removes our struggles but because He sustains us through them.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for being the God who walks with us in our human steps. Help us to trust that Your presence is enough, even when our circumstances are difficult. Teach us not to judge others or ourselves by the absence of struggle but to recognize Your faithfulness in the midst of it. Remind us that You are not distant or detached but intimately involved in every detail of our lives. May we find comfort in knowing that You walk with us through every trial, and may we embrace the ordinary, trusting that Your love and provision are sufficient. Amen.