The Vicissitudes Of Life

-February 23, 2023-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. And he said to his father, ‘My head, my head!’ So he to a servant, ‘Carry him to his mother.’ When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.” She carried his body and laid on the bed of the man of God.

(2 Kings 4:18-19).

Life is in constant flux. Things never stay the same, people change, circumstances change; Only God never changes. This story of the Shunammite woman, her husband, and their son is an example of a vicissitude. A vicissitude is defined as, “A change of circumstances or fortune, typically that is unwelcome or unpleasant.” This certainly describes many people in the Bible, as well as ourselves.

The Shunammite woman and her husband developed a close friendship with the prophet Elisha. He stopped by their home when he passed by that way and had fellowship with him. She asked her husband to build him a small, upper room in their house on the wall of the city. They provided Elisha with a bed, table, chair, and lamp stand. They showed him love and kindness. He wanted to repay their kindness by doing something good for the lady. When asked what that was, she had no need. Elisha’s servant Gehazi found out she had no son and her husband was old. He told her she would have a son, and she couldn’t believe it.

When the appointed time came she delivered a wonderful baby boy and he became the love of her life. Then one day he grew to be a young boy and he went to his father in the fields, he was struck with a severe heat stroke and died. She went to Elisha the man of God, believing he could do something and he did. He raised him from the dead by the power of God, presenting him back to his mother. Things were good once again for this dear woman, her husband, and their son. The good thing happened and God worked a second miracle for her.

God helps us in the vicissitudes of life. Like has its sorrows, troubles, pains, and tragedies; but we don’t face them alone, the Lord is with us to help us through them. His grace is sufficient for us. Sudden changes can hit us hard, like the loss of loved one, the loss of a job, or the loss of health, or any number of other things. These are often unwelcome and unwanted, but God uses them to draw us closer to Him and grow our faith. Job and Joseph both experienced the vicissitudes of life.

May the Lord be with us so that if sudden bad things happens to us, we will know that He allowed them for our good. Let Him show us how to be better not bitter as a result. Have a blessed day whatever comes. Stay safe and healthy.

Through the ups and downs of life,

Dean