Who’s Calling Me?

Read

1 Samuel 3:5-6 "And he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am; you called me.' But Eli said, 'I did not call; go back and lie down.' So he went and lay down. Again the Lord called, 'Samuel!' And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am; you called me.' 'My son,' Eli said, 'I did not call; go back and lie down.'"

Think

Have you ever been sure you heard someone call your name, so you came running, but they said, “I didn’t call you”? It is a little confusing, right? You were positive you heard something. That is exactly the mix-up Samuel ran into.

When Samuel heard his name, he thought it must be Eli, the old priest he lived with and helped. So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, you called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” Then it happened again. And Samuel ran to Eli again. And again Eli said no.

Here is something really honest and helpful in this story. Samuel did not figure out God’s voice on the very first try. He got it wrong, more than once. He thought it was a regular person, when it was actually God.

That is so encouraging for us. Sometimes we think we should instantly know when God is speaking, and if we do not get it right away, something must be wrong with us. But look at Samuel. He was a good kid with a ready heart, and he still needed some practice to know God’s voice.

Here is the bridge to your life. Learning to hear God is exactly that. Learning. Remember, for us it is usually not a voice out loud like Samuel heard that night. It is learning to notice God in his Bible, in his world, and in the good thoughts he brings to mind. And that takes practice, just like learning to ride a bike or read a book. You will not always get it right the first time, and that is completely okay. God is patient with you while you learn.

So do not give up if hearing God feels tricky at first. Samuel kept getting up. He kept responding. He did not quit just because he was confused. Keep listening, keep trying, and trust that God will help you learn his voice, one try at a time.

And notice, God did not get frustrated with Samuel for getting it wrong. He just kept calling, gently, patiently, again and again, until Samuel was ready. God is that patient with you too. He is not annoyed when you are still learning. He keeps calling, kindly, until you hear him.

Apply

Keep trying – If hearing God feels hard or confusing, do not give up. Do what Samuel did and keep showing up. Tell God today, “I’m still listening, even when it’s tricky.”

Pray

God, thank you that I do not have to be perfect at hearing you right away. Like Samuel, I am still learning. Help me keep trying and not give up. Teach me to know your voice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.