Read: 1 Samuel 3:11-21
Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. (v. 19)
Have you ever struggled to be heard? Maybe you have shouted into the wind while searching for your children or your dog. Or maybe you’ve been the young graduate, fresh on a new job when everyone else has years of wisdom and experience. Plenty of us find it challenging to speak up in a meeting, or even a small group Bible study setting.
Words matter. In our depth, we know the importance of both the words we speak and how well we listen to that which is spoken. As young Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord, it was clear he was becoming a prophet. Samuel was the first prophet since Moses, and seeing him established as a prophet likely brought a sense of relief to Israel. If none of Samuel’s “words [fell] to the ground,” it was evidence of God’s truthful voice speaking through Samuel. The people of God listened well to Samuel, and saw his words come to pass.
God’s people always need a wise word. In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul exhorts Timothy to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” There will be situations in which you’ll find it difficult to speak up, worrying that you’ll be misunderstood. But when God has given you words to speak, though you may speak carefully, speak with boldness.
As you pray, ask God to give you both the tongue of a teacher and responsive ears.
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.
