From Breakdown to Breakthrough

This past year, I experienced what felt like a personal breakdown. One thing after another—car accidents, health issues, emotional exhaustion, spiritual heaviness. It seemed like every area of life was strained. And yet, through it all, I kept sensing God saying, “I’m not finished. Keep going.”

This Easter, we look at a story from 1 Kings 17 that powerfully echoes this theme. It’s the story of a woman at the end of her rope—and a God who turns breakdown into breakthrough. It's also a foreshadowing of resurrection hope. Because here’s the truth: the resurrection isn’t just something we celebrate—it’s something we live. And in Jesus, God is still raising the dead to life.

In 1 Kings 17, the prophet Elijah meets a widow in Zarephath during a severe famine. She’s gathering sticks to cook one final meal for herself and her son. She has no safety net, extra oil, or backup plan—just enough for one more desperate act of survival.

And that’s when Elijah shows up with an outrageous request: Give what little you have to God first. It sounds unkind at first, even irresponsible. But this wasn’t exploitation—it was an invitation. An invitation to trust. And when she responds in faith, the breakthrough begins. The flour and oil don’t run out. The presence of God remains in her home. And later, when her son dies, God raises him from the dead.

This story foreshadows the resurrection of Jesus. A world worn down by sin and scarcity receives a Savior who seems to ask for everything—and yet offers more than we could ever imagine. Through Him, the empty is filled, the dead are raised, and the broken are restored.

Maybe you’re in a season like that widow—emotionally depleted, spiritually dry, or unsure how to keep going. God’s invitation is the same today: trust Me with what you have. He’s not asking for your perfection. He’s asking for your surrender.

The resurrection is a promise that our dead places aren’t the end of the story. When we bring Him our fear, fatigue, and even our failures, He brings His life. Flour that doesn’t run out. Oil that keeps flowing. And resurrection in the most unexpected places.

So if you’re in a breakdown season, don’t give up. You may be standing on the edge of your greatest breakthrough yet.

Lord, I bring you the places in my life that feel broken or beyond repair. Help me trust You with what I have. Bring your resurrection power into my heart, family, and faith. I believe that you are the God who brings breakthroughs. In Jesus’ name, amen.