Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the
God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
–I Samuel 1:17 (KJV)
I have heard all my adult life the expression “I
have had a crazy week.” What this means is someone has had a
week that did not stop with activity and the stress of getting it all
done was beginning to test the limit the person’s patience and coping
abilities. We know when we feel this way, for we begin to feel
overwhelmed. If you have had such a week, try stopping and giving
thanks to God for allowing you the opportunity to trust Him with all
your time and talents. Next, ask the Lord for a better understanding
of how best to manage your time. Then, you will begin to grow
as God challenges you to even deeper faith and commitment. Trust
in the Lord and the result is calm peace and assurance even when we
are having a “crazy” week. The hectic way we feel our lives
are going will become opportunities for stretching and then growing
our faith.
Hannah of the Old Testament resolved to pray to God
for a child. So fervent were her prayers and so great her commitment
that she vowed that if God gave her a child she would give the child
back to God. When Eli the priest learned of her prayer, he urged
her to go in the peace and assurance that God would answer her request.
Sometime later, she gave birth to a son, which she later gave back to
God according to her vow. The child, named Samuel, grew into one
of the greatest prophets of the Bible. No doubt, Hannah knew about
the overwhelming feeling of having her faith stretched. Yet, in
the end, she grew in faith, the Lord honored His Word, and the world
was blessed with a powerful prophet who led God’s people.
No matter what kind of week you are having or have
had, trust God to keep you going in strength, faith, and integrity.
Spiritual growth comes when we are tested, and even though this testing
is difficult, the result is to our benefit, for we become more like
Jesus Christ.
Keep going forward and keep thanking God. The
best is yet to come.
God bless you today.
