Daily Devotional – Tuesday, August 25, 2026
So Elisha said to her, ‘What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?’
2 Kings 4:2 (NKJV)
Have you ever had a problem that made you forget what you did have? A large bill can make the money in your account feel useless, while a difficult season at work can make you forget the experience and skills you have gained over the years. When a need becomes the main thing on our minds, we can easily overlook resources that are already within our reach. We continue to ask ourselves what we need, yet at times a more insightful question is the one Elisha posed to a desperate widow: “What do you have in the house?”
The Jar She Almost Overlooked
The widow had come to Elisha because her husband had died and left a debt behind. The creditor was coming to take her two sons as servants, so she needed help urgently. When Elisha asked what she had, she said that she had nothing except a jar of oil. In her eyes, the oil was far too little to make a difference. Elisha asked her to borrow empty vessels from her neighbours and pour the oil into them. She did as he said, and the oil continued to flow until every vessel was full.
Her story gives us a practical lesson about God’s provision. The miracle began with something already in her house, and the woman had to use it as Elisha directed. She gathered the vessels, poured the oil, and then sold it to pay the debt and provide for her family. God did not ask her to begin with something she did not have. He worked through what was already in her hands.
What Do You Have in Your House?
We can easily make the same mistake when we face our own needs. We see the amount of money required and forget the skills we have that could earn something. We see a closed door and forget the people we know who might point us towards another opportunity. We see a need in our family, church, or community and assume we have nothing useful to offer. The problem may be real, yet that means we can do something about it. Sometimes we need to stop staring at the size of the need and take a closer look at what is already available to us.
So ask yourself the question that Elisha asked: “What do I have in the house?” Write down what comes to mind, especially the things you have been treating as too small to matter. Look at your abilities, experience, relationships, time, knowledge, and resources. Then ask God to show you how you can use what you already have. The widow began with a jar of oil, and she did not know how far it would go. You may not know what can come from what you have either. Start there, use it faithfully, and trust God with the result.
Prayer
Father in heaven, help me see the resources that You have already placed within my reach. Give me wisdom to use them well. Give me faith to take the next step, even when what I have seems small.
