The Sheer Sweetness of Starved Mothers: Why I Marvel at God's Chosen Deprivation
Okay, friends, let’s talk about something that’s been weighing on my heart, in a good way, I promise! We’ve all been through seasons where it feels like we're in a desert, right? Maybe it’s a financial drought, or a drought in relationships, or just feeling…empty. Recently, I’ve been contemplating those periods of what we might call “deprivation” and how they’re actually these profound moments where God is working. It’s not always easy to see, I know, but bear with me.
I was reading in 2 Kings 6:25-29 the other day – yes, I know it’s a hard passage to swallow – it talks about this horrible famine in Samaria, where things got so bad that mothers were actually eating their own children. I mean, it’s horrific. But when I sat with it, prayed about it, I realised that even in those moments of unimaginable lack, God was present. I don't for a minute think this was something God *caused*, but He didn't stop it either, and His presence was right there amidst the utter horror. He was there with them. It makes me think of Job – who lost everything! Family, wealth, health – all of it was stripped away. And yet, through it all, his faith endured. We see in Job 1:21, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." That’s powerful stuff!
For me, a personal experience comes to mind. Last year, I was laid off from my job. It was devastating. I had a mortgage, bills piling up, and suddenly, there was no income. It felt like the rug had been pulled right out from under me. We had to make hard choices – selling things, cutting back on everything. It was a time of real deprivation. We had to let go of our weekly date nights and our little get-togethers with family, even our groceries were looking pretty grim for a while there. We had to cut back to essentials only. I remember sitting on the floor one night, just overwhelmed, wondering what on earth I was going to do.
But you know what? During that season of financial deprivation, my faith grew in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I learned to rely on God like never before. I realized how much I was relying on my own efforts and forgetting about Him. It was during that time, amidst the lack, that I felt His love so deeply, so truly. It was a time of deep prayer, deep connection, and even though we had very little, we had so much of His presence. That’s the sweetness right there, you know? God uses those times of being stripped bare to truly teach us and show us what is valuable. It's not always about physical comfort, it’s about Him.
I think of it now, and it was like God was saying, "Okay, you think you can do it on your own? Here's a dose of something different." We had to go without, and it was painful. But those times, they led us to rely on Him for everything. Our community also rallied around us, helping with food and encouragement, and it showed me the true heart of the church family.
This “sweetness,” though it sounds strange to call it that, doesn't mean we should *seek* hardship. No! But it’s about recognizing that even in those moments of deprivation – financial, emotional, or even spiritual – God is there, working. He's molding us, refining us, and teaching us lessons we wouldn’t learn any other way. We often hear it in the church, that God uses trials to refine us, and this was proof. And it was really beautiful.
It’s a lesson I try to apply daily now. When things get tough, or I feel like I'm lacking in some area, I try to see it through this lens of deprivation. It reminds me to lean into God more, to seek His guidance and His comfort, and not rely on my own ability to provide. James 1:2-4 reminds us, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." It’s a tough teaching, but it really speaks to what I’ve been feeling.
So, friends, I encourage you, think about those hard times in your life. Think about the ways God showed up even when it felt like you had nothing. Where have you felt deprived, and what did you learn during that season? Don’t just try to get rid of the hard times, but try to see the sweetness in them, the way that God is using them to make you into the person He wants you to be.
What about you? When have you experienced a time of deprivation that ultimately led you closer to God? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments.