Read: 1 Samuel 1:21-2:10
He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. (v. 9)
My daughter never learned to crawl as a baby. Crawling is an essential skill that teaches balance and valuable parallel movement. So when she started to walk, my daughter lacked the instinctual balance developed from crawling and would repeatedly fall forward onto her forehead. After a long, trial-filled time of practice and encouragement, she learned to walk safely and independently.
It is hard to watch our children do hard things. Whether learning to walk, going off to a new school, performing in a play, learning calculus, or starting a new relationship—they might fall. Sometimes they get hurt. Hannah, mother of one, took her young son, Samuel, to the temple, the house of the Lord, and in accordance with her vow, she left him there. With deepest motherly instinct, Hannah knew this would be painful. Yet, she prayed a prayer like Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” She trusted that God would be the one guarding her toddler’s feet, and his path, Samuel’s whole life-long.
We’ve no greater skill to learn than trusting God. Learning to walk, stumbling and falling, growing in our ability to see and stick to the path—this is our life’s journey. And, leaning into our faithful Lord is the thing that will make it safe and good.
As you pray, tell God what makes it difficult to stay on the path, and ask to see and walk faithfully.
About the Author
Katy Sundararajan is a specialized minister in the Reformed Church in America. She has garnered her pastoral perspectives from posts as a college chaplain, a missionary, an international student advisor, and a higher education and leadership ministries program coordinator.
