In II Kings 4:2, the prophet Elisha asked a widow an important question: “What do you have in the house?” His question may hold the key to God’s solution for the situations some of us face today as well:

This widow, who had been married to one of the prophets, had come to Elisha with her need: she owed money to a creditor and her sons were about to be sold as slaves, verse 1 tells us. She obviously hoped that God would do something for her through Elisha. He did, but Elisha’s question is revealing about the way that God often works. Elisha asked her: “What do you have in the house?” That question shows us that God often uses what we have available as a part of His solution for our problems.

If you are looking for God to help you in a certain area of your life, do not overlook “what you have in the house” — your current status or ability or means. These things are there for a reason in God’s providence, and we see in II Kings 4 that God often blesses and uses something you already have, instead of providing some entirely new “missing something” to meet your need.

If you are looking for God’s answer for your situation, perhaps there is someone, or something, already on hand that is going to be at least part of His answer. Ask yourself Elisha’s question: “What do you have in the house?”