“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Deut. 28:1-2).

I was living by faith as a Bible college student. The end of one semester had arrived, and I faced the deadline to pay my bills to enrol for the next semester. I needed $2,000 by the end of the day. But I only had $200 in my bank account. I was in my dorm room praying. Lord, you promised that you would provide for my needs. I need your provision today...

The Bible describes one of the most remarkable spiritual confrontations in history: Elijah’s encounter with Baal’s priests. Even for us today, this account is very dramatic to read. But what was Elijah really after?

Imagine with me what it may have been like to grow up on an ancient Israeli farm. The long winter months have reduced the once plentiful pantries to empty shelves, and the family is now living on meager rations and dreaming about a loaf of bread fresh from the oven.

Adversity does not need to become our destination.  It can be a pathway to something greater.