I know what it is like to smile and say that I am doing fine, when my reality is full of uncertainty.
Is it okay to say, “I’m fine,” when I’m not fine? Have you ever wondered about this?
Not everyone can handle our stories as we are experiencing them, nor should they.
We may say, “I’m fine,” or “All is well” when nothing FEELS fine or well. Our feelings are not necessarily a good representation or indicator of God’s truth. I have to remind myself of this. All. Of. The. Time.
I may feel lost, but God knows where I am and where He is leading me too. The rough waters of life roll in and out and some roll in to stay awhile. He is there.
God knows the crushing can refine us. It can pull out of us a grit, fire and faith that is beautiful and strong.
When we find comfort in knowing who is in control, who stirs up our lost hope, and who restores broken dreams, we can say, “All is well” – even before all is well.
If I am honest though, I hate the question, “How are you?” It feels vulnerable and way to personal of a question to be asked by perfect strangers, or acquaintances, or those that know you, but don’t know, KNOW you.
There is a time to share with others, even strangers. There is a time to admit that you are not okay and to be surrounded by others who will encourage you. And, there is a time to go straight to God.
There are days that I am brave. I have more of my ducks in a row, like the woman from Shunem in 2 Kings 4. I can say, “All is well,” knowing that God is the one who orders my steps, brings the dead back to life, and can create anything and everything from nothing at all.
The Shunem woman knew exactly who could help her, the prophet of God, Elisha.
She chose not to waste her time or worry on others, including her husband, with the details of her son’s death. She reserved her passion and the facts of her story for the man of God; the one who first spoke into existence the promise.
And other days I am trying my best to plant my feet in faith and yet, my emotions are wobbly and I feel all the uncertainty that threatens the existence of hope.
Like the woman of Shunem, when the prophet Elisha spoke of her having a baby boy within a year, she did not want to have her hope stirred, just to be dashed down again. “No my Lord!” she protested. “Please don’t lie to me like that, O man of God” (2 Kings 4:16).
She was given good news, a blessing foretold, but she could not bare holding the possibility of this hope, if it were not true.
In those moments of shaky faith and wondering if . . . I don’t want to say, “I’m fine.” I don’t even want to answer the question, “How are you?”
But, I do it. I push through, sputtering the words out of my mouth quickly, to move the conversation on. Can you relate?
We were meant for community and relationships, but there are times it’s ok to say, “All is well,” because we know in whom we are trusting to make it all well – even when the words are awkward, against our nature and don’t come easy.
Maybe it’s not “fronting” or being inauthentic at all. Maybe it’s speaking by faith.
Maybe it’s guarding our hearts and minds when we’re in a tender place.
Maybe it’s knowing from where our help comes from.
Maybe it’s saving others from information overload and overwhelm and not knowing what to say.
The Shunem woman knew how to conceal her feelings and when to reveal her passion. She used wisdom. Not everyone can or should be trusted with our stories in their present form.
Her dream died.
Our dreams die too.
She sent word to her husband for him to send a servant and donkey to take her to the man of God, Elisha. Her husband asked why. “But she said, “It’s all right” (2 Kings 4:23).”
In a world that is screaming for authenticity, and a desire to know the “behind the scenes” as they are occurring – maybe this is not always the way we are called to live. There is a time to NOT share and go with confidence, straight to the One who can bring the dead back to life.
Elisha saw her coming and sent Gehazi to ask her if everything was alright with her, her husband, and her boy. Her response, “Yes,” the woman told Gehazi, “everything is fine” (2 Kings 4:26).
“But when she came to the man of God at the mountain, she fell to the ground before him and caught hold of his feet. Then she said, “It was you, my Lord, who said I would have a son. And didn’t I tell you not to raise my hopes?”
Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face.”
But the boy’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I won’t go home unless you go with me.” So Elisha returned with her” (2 Kings 4:27-30).
God honors perseverance and determined faith! Elisha came, prayed several times, and the boy was brought back to life by the Spirit of God.
There are times we say, “All is well” and “I’m fine” because we know deep down that it will be.
In It With You and Cheering You On!
Joelle Povolni
P.S. Thank you for allowing me to serve you. I pray this has ministered to you in some small way. If it has, I’d love to hear from you in the comments or on social media. If you have enjoyed this article you may also enjoy, You Are Brave Even When.
