POWERHOUSE DEVOTIONALS: THE WAR, THE NEWS AND THE QUESTION: SHOULD I JUST PANIC NOW?

By: Kim Rato

"For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’" — 1 Kings 17:14

I woke up today to the same news you did: a declared state of national energy emergency in our country. It hasn’t even been a month since the conflict in the Middle East began, yet the tremors are already reaching our doorsteps. It started with the gas pumps, and now it’s hitting our power grids.

I’ll be honest with you: my first instinct wasn’t a hallelujah. It was a heavy chest.

As someone who works with people across borders where electricity isn't just a convenience but a lifeline, my mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenarios. And as someone planning a wedding this year, I looked at the rising prices and felt the weight of every single payable. It’s easy to look at someone else and think they have it all figured out, but the truth is, we are all in the same boat. I felt like one of the disciples in the middle of the storm, shaking Jesus awake because the waves were high and I was terrified we were going under.

No work, no income, no provision. That fear is loud, isn't it?

But before I let that panic steer my boat, the Holy Spirit brought me back to two simple words: "I AM."

In the Bible, wars and famines weren't just stories; they were daily realities. In 1 Kings 17, we meet a widow in Zarephath. There was a drought and a national crisis. She was down to her last handful of flour and a drop of oil. She was literally gathering sticks to cook one final meal for her son before they gave up.

But God sent the prophet Elijah to her with a strange request: “Make me a small loaf of bread first.” It sounds out of touch, doesn't it? To ask for something when you have nothing left? But it was a test of priority over panic. God wasn’t trying to take her last meal; He was trying to give her a source that would never end. Because she trusted Him, the Bible says her jar of flour and jug of oil did not run dry. It lasted until the crisis passed.

Today, I want you to hold on to this as well: Our God is not limited by the Philippine stock market, the price of a barrel of crude oil, or the stability of a power grid. He is the God of every economy.

When the world declares a "shortage," He has already declared a "surplus."

If you are feeling the squeeze today, if you’re worried about how to pay the bills, how to feed your family, or whether this will spiral into something pandemic-sized, know that I am right there with you. But let’s choose to hear His voice over the news reports:

No matter how scary the war is, I AM your peace.

No matter how high the prices rise, I AM your provider.

No matter how messy the world gets, I AM your Savior.

You are under My care.

In times of emergency, the world’s reflex is to hoard and panic. But as people of faith, our response is to prepare with wisdom and trust with intensity. Let’s be mindful of one another. Don't let fear turn you into someone who only thinks of themselves. Instead, let’s keep working with excellence, keep planning for the future (yes, even weddings and big dreams!) and keep our hands open.

Our "oil" won't run out because our Source isn't a pipeline; it’s the Provider. Let’s pray for the war to end, and then let’s get back to living, knowing that the God who moves mountains is the same One holding our hand in the dark.

A Prayer for the Emergency:

Lord, we lift up our nation to You. In this state of emergency, we choose to declare that You are our Refuge. We pray for the people in the Middle East, that peace would prevail and the war would cease. For my brothers and sisters feeling the weight of inflation and uncertainty, I pray for a supernatural peace that surpasses understanding. Multiply our "flour and oil" today. Let our needs be met according to Your riches in glory. We trust You with our work, our families, and our future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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