There is an encouraging, amazing narrative recorded for us in I Kings 17:1-16. Elijah predicts a drought, “there shall be neither dew nor rain these years,” (v 1).

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“And the word of the LORD came to him:” (v 2) with a plan for his provision, drinking water from a brook and ravens to feed him. Those birds brought him bread and meat morning and evening.

Elijah trusted God’s provision. “So he went and did according to the word of the LORD.” (v 5)

Eventually that provision dried up; and the word of the LORD came to him again directing him to Zarephath where a widow would feed him. (v 8&9) Elijah went.

Little and its synonyms appear six times in verses 10 through 13: a morsel, a handful, a couple, and little 3 times.

Elijah asks for a little water and a morsel of bread.
The widow responds, “I have only a handful of flour … and a little oil. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks…” (v 10-12)

Elijah knew the trustworthiness of God and was able to minister to and encourage the widow. “Do not fear …” God will provide. And he shares the words of the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty,” (v14)

The little, the morsel, the handful, the couple was more than enough for Elijah, the widow, and her son.

Can I trust that the little God provides for me is enough?

A Mustard Seed

Matthew 17:19-21 records the incident when the disciples were unsuccessful in healing the man with a demon.
The father of the man goes to Jesus who “rebuked the demon … and the boy was healed instantly.” (v18)

The embarrassed disciples came to Jesus privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” (v 19)
Kudos to the disciples, they came to Jesus. They wanted to understand, to grow in their faith.

“Because of your little faith … If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed … you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ … nothing will be impossible for you.'” (v 20) Their little faith was not a descriptor; it was the reason for their un-success.

Moving mountains was a common metaphor in Jewish literature for doing what seems impossible. It communicated truth to the disciples. They might have remembered Isaiah 40:4.

Am I willing to trust that the little faith God gives me
can move the mountains in my life?

As I’ve been meditating these past several weeks on the phrase, O you of little faith, God has led me to these applications:

RECOGNIZE where I am in my story. What is challenging my faith. Why am I tempted to name it little faith?
REHEARSE God’s character. He is omnipresent, omniscience, and omnipotent.
REMIND myself of His promises.
REQUEST – pray like the disciples, “God please increase my faith.” Luke 17:5

“Fear not, little flock,
for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:32

What do you hear from God as you meditate on these little faith passages?
Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 14:28-33
Matthew 16:5-12
Matthew 17: 19-21

Copyright: Sue Tell, January 2026