Devotion: Get out of the Way
Sometimes it can feel overwhelming trying to choose what to read out of your whole big Bible. It might even be intimidating deciding how to spend your quiet time with God when there are no prompts or guidelines. That’s why we’ve asked former Collide staffer, Michelle Holladay, to write this devotion to help take the guesswork out of your study time and relax into prayer and reading.
Read 1 Samuel 1:1-28
Earnestly, she prayed. Her distress was so great that as she poured her heart out to the Lord, one observer thought she was drunk. When God grants her request for a child, Hannah does a remarkable thing, she gives her long awaited son right back to God. This one thing she prayed for so desperately, she was willing to give up once she got it. It’s not like Hannah gave birth and then said, “Hmmmmm. I thought this was what I wanted but I was wrong. You can have him back now.” No, it is quite the opposite. It is, in fact, Hannah’s deep love for her child and her trust in God that I find so inspiring.
I think Hannah was able to grasp something we so often forget. God loves the people we love exponentially more than we do. We sometimes believe that to show love to the people in our lives, we must do whatever is in our power to make their lives better. But the truth is, our power is limited. What if in our efforts to protect our children, we are standing in the way of life-changing lessons? What if trying to control our spouse leads to him missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime? What if rescuing a friend means she fails to see God’s power at work? What if in our attempts to love people more, we are actually loving them less because we are standing in the way of God and not allowing Him to work through them?
As I read Hannah’s story, I am challenged by her strength. I cannot imagine how incredibly difficult it must have been for her to return to the same place where she had passionately prayed for this child and leave him there. But in her strength, I am reminded that to truly love the people God has placed in my life, I just might need to get out of the way. I might need to care more about my loved one’s future than their (or my) present comfort. I might need to remember that God loves them way more than I do and I just might need to trust that love enough to step aside.
Where do you need to step out of the way?
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Want to read more from this series? Search ‘Devotion’ on our main blog page.
