FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: FAITHFUL CALLING

God is faithful, and He calls us to be faithful, as well.  Even when the way is rough, and the storms come, or when the way is easy, and we’re tempted to forget our purpose. He calls us to be faithful even when it is bittersweet.

Barren, Hannah in her grief cried out to the Lord for a child. When the Lord answered her prayers, she fulfilled her vow to turn the boy over to the Lord to serve Him all of his days.  It must have hurt Hannah’s heart to leave her precious Samuel, so young, newly weaned, at the tabernacle in Shiloh with Eli the priest. She must have kissed his chubby cheeks and run her hand over his silky, dark hair before hugging him tight with tears in her eyes.

But I believe there was joy in her voice and in her heart, as well. The Lord had been faithful and answered her prayers. And she determined to be faithful, as well. There were probably moments when she wondered if she’d be able to do it. Nights of her boy cuddled close in her arms, when she never wanted to let go. But when the time came, she followed through on her vow. She turned Samuel over to Eli, saying “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now, I give him to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1: 27-28a). The next chapter records Hannah’s prayer, a song of joy and victory, “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high…” (1 Samuel 2: 1a).

Every year Hannah returned to Shiloh with her husband to worship and to visit her boy. Every year, she made Samuel a little robe and brought it to him as a gift, a mother, faithfully looking after her child and faithfully serving the Lord.  Eli the priest blessed her, and so did the Lord. Previously barren and bullied by her rival, Hannah went on to have five more children, three sons and two daughters. And Samuel followed his mother’s example of faithfulness. He grew to be a man of integrity, having favor with both God and man, serving the Lord with all of his heart as a judge and prophet.

God calls us to be faithful. Faithful to serve, obey, and love him. Faithful to fulfill His calling on our lives and to work with what He has given us in our hands. If He has called you to write, then write with energy and heart, and keep on writing even when the road is rough, and you feel like giving up. Or if He has called you to serve in another way, then do so, putting one foot in front of the other, walking, running, or even stumbling at times if need be. He has called, He will not forsake us, and He has given us His Spirit and everything we need in order to run the race He has laid before us, keeping our eyes upon Jesus.

By Sherry Shindelar

https://sherryshindelar.com/
www.facebook.com/historylitgirl

To leave a comment, please click on the title above, FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: FAITHFUL CALLING and scroll down. Thank you for subscribing and sharing this website with family and friends. God bless you!!  🙂