The prophet Elijah appeared just as she was gathering sticks to build a fire and prepare what she believed would be her final meal before her meager supply was exhausted. Yet Elijah had the audacity to ask her to first bake him a small loaf from her last handful of flour and oil before providing for herself and her son.

Paul lifts up one of the most triumphant declarations found anywhere in scripture. We are not merely survivors; we are overwhelmingly triumphant.

"Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God." Paul echoes the same thought in Philippians 2:13 "It is God who works in you."

"Be strong" - more accurately, "be strengthened." Be strong in strength that comes from God rather than human determination (Ephesians 6:10).

Perhaps a devotional about love seems of lesser importance than the “deeper” things of scripture but, as is made abundantly clear in chapter 13, the “deeper” things are truly shallow things devoid of love.

Our Father has not changed. His promises remain trustworthy; His mercy is still available to those who seek Him. Faith is built upon remembering God's faithfulness.

This does not mean Paul ignored correction or accountability. Rather, he understood that only God sees the whole picture. People can judge our actions, but God knows our motives, struggles, and intentions.