Daily Devotional: Wednesday, Feb 10

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Patience & Kindness

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Salvation is Here by Hillsong United; Let the Praises Ring by Lincoln Brewster; Your Name by Paul Baloche; Let Us Adore by Hillsong.

Read: I Samuel 1 and I Samuel 2:1-10

Think: I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. -1 Samuel 1:27

For anyone who has either been waiting for their own baby to arrive or for a little bundle of joy to be born to someone special in their life, nine months can seem like forever! For the mother-to-be the months are filled with hormonal ups and downs, morning sickness, crazy emotions and changing appetites with late-night cravings where only pizza, chocolate, and dill pickles will do. The excitement begins and continues to build for the happy day which seems forever away. Then, just like that, the waiting is over. Nine months become like yesterday's news - a memory replaced by pure joy!

In the Biblical account of Hannah, her wait for that big day began even more slowly. For years she was unable to have a child. She was "crushed in soul" (1 Sam. 1: 9) and felt unfulfilled, so dishonored (1 Samuel 1). But the Lord remembered her, and she conceived. Her joy was made complete. Hannah waited patiently and saw the Lord turn her sadness and questioning into joyous celebration. Her song (2:1-10) is a reminder that disappointment and even the most bitter distress can lead to fulfillment and delight when we trust God and His timing.

As Pastor Ben talked about patience last weekend, for many of us we are waiting on the Lord. We wonder if He hears, why He doesn't seem to care and if His promises are real. Let Hannah's story remind you - He does hear, he cares more than you can know and his promises are true and trustworthy! In the same way that an expectant mom awaits the birth of a little one you must trust that your long hours of enduring will one day give way to rejoicing, too.

Do: Don't give up on the situation you have been praying for and seeking God's help with. Don't stop pleading your case. God hears, be patient, trust Him.

Pray: God, I know that you are good. I know that you love me and your plan for my life is perfect. Help me to draw closer to you than ever as I wait patiently on you to answer my plea and my prayer. Until that time, I choose to trust you and yield my wants and desires to you. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org