Difference Between Believing And Knowing
“And the woman said to Elijah, By this I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.” 1Kings 17;24AMPC
Read the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, 1Kings 17:9-24. Yahweh sent Elijah to her for provision. When he asked her for bread and water, she replied her provision was sufficient for one last meal— then starvation for her and her son.
Elijah convinced her, his God would provide for her IF she provided for him first. There’s a difference between ‘believing’ and ‘knowing/‘ She believed him and made Elijah’s bread first. —Believe — meaning: ‘to think, have as an opinion; to accept.’ Many times we ‘believe’ God has given us a promise. We accept and act on the belief— but do we know?
In our text, the widow said— “this I know that you are a man of God.” When Holy Spirit drew me to meditate on this I realized. Do we KNOW — experiential, intimate knowledge— His promises will come to pass? Knowing is the difference between faith and failure to receive.
Jen Tringale, an evangelist, missionary, and prophetess spoke at The Glory River Conference in Tim Sheets’ Oasis Church May 30, 2026. Here’s a portion of her sermon. — Holy Spirit called her to go to Grenada, prepare a meal for thousands, preach the gospel and prepare a work for Him there. The meal was to be rotisserie chicken with the side dishes prepared by catering from elsewhere.
After purchasing every piece of chicken in the nation, they went to the airstrip, where US soldiers had landed in Ronald Reagan’s time. There, in 90* late evening heat, they prayed for the next day.
Just as they finished, a box truck arrived. She asked what he wanted. He told her he’d brought the chicken she’d ordered. Jen asked him to return in the morning, as he off-loaded thousands of pounds of chicken into the heat.
What to do? A man drove in as they wondered what to do. He encouraged them to put the chicken in his wooden pallate shed under lock to prevent theft. Jen accepted his generosity knowing she was in God’s will. Yahweh wanted her to do the meal. They laid hands on the chicken, praying it would supernaturally remain frozen.
The next morning, when the man unlocked his hanger, the chicken was still frozen.— that’s miraculous! (Chicken thaws quickly in 90* and higher temperatures, then rots, becoming poisonous.) Cooks took the chicken to the rotisseries, while Jen was handling the service preparations.
Head cook, a team member, kept coming to Jen saying, ‘I need you please.’ She kept putting him off. Finally, he returned with great urgency. ‘The chickens had been on the rotisseries cooking for an hour but still were frozen.’
Asking God for help, she heard in her spirit —‘stretch forth your hands and say I release you from your frozen state.’ Jen released the chickens, which immediately began cooking.
News travels fast. People came, some because of the frozen chickens— a story of supernatural power from God. Thousands have been saved and a mighty work for the kingdom has been started. Behind it all, Jen didn’t just believe— she KNEW she had heard from God and was doing His will.
We must spend enough time with God that we don’t believe whatever is ‘the right thing’ to do. Lay before Him. Seek His face until we KNOW it’s the way our King wants it.
Every failure comes from the difference between believing and knowing we’re doing what God wants. In this day and age we must KNOW. Believing is too risky. Will you stay just believing or pray until you KNOW? It’s your choice. You choose.
LET’S PRAY: LORD God help us to quit listening to our heads and pray until we KNOW what is Your will we pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
by Debbie Veilleux Copyright 2026 You have my permission to reblog this devotional for others. Please keep my name as author with this. Thank you.
