Dear Reader,
Life throws a lot at us, doesn’t it! Sometimes it’s easy to sleep right through the moments that matter most. That wasn’t the case with Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. She was wide awake to what God was doing. In a time of deep longing and heartbreak, she brought her prayer to the Lord, and God gave her Samuel. His name means “God hears,” and Samuel became one of Israel’s most important spiritual leaders. Meanwhile Eli, the priest who should have been spiritually alert, kept missing what God was doing. He misread people, failed to lead his family, and let his pastoral instincts grow dull. His life lacked discipline and clarity.
Now think about today. So many kids are growing up without clear boundaries, and deep down they’re hungry for structure. Chaos might look like freedom, but over time it breeds confusion. Parents and grandparents have a difficult but vital role—and as committed Christians, we’re called to provide this for one another in the body of Christ. Like football, life works best with boundaries. If we don’t take our opportunities to guide, teach, and model, someone else will—or worse, no one will.
God raised up Samuel to replace Eli. Later, Samuel anointed David to replace Saul, who also missed his moment.
This is serious. In recent years, as I’ve prayed more earnestly than ever, I’ve learned how rare self-sacrifice, loyalty, and a true heart to walk with people in hard seasons can be. The Jesus-follower, and the congregation, who commits to those traits will see hearts changed, starting with our own, and then our community. God is always moving, always raising up someone who will listen, obey, and lead.
Don’t sleep through your opportunity. Wake up to what God is doing, and step into it.
James
Rev. James A. Williams
Senior Pastor
Grace Resurrection Methodist Church
Life throws a lot at us, doesn’t it! Sometimes it’s easy to sleep right through the moments that matter most. That wasn’t the case with Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. She was wide awake to what God was doing. In a time of deep longing and heartbreak, she brought her prayer to the Lord, and God gave her Samuel. His name means “God hears,” and Samuel became one of Israel’s most important spiritual leaders. Meanwhile Eli, the priest who should have been spiritually alert, kept missing what God was doing. He misread people, failed to lead his family, and let his pastoral instincts grow dull. His life lacked discipline and clarity.
Now think about today. So many kids are growing up without clear boundaries, and deep down they’re hungry for structure. Chaos might look like freedom, but over time it breeds confusion. Parents and grandparents have a difficult but vital role—and as committed Christians, we’re called to provide this for one another in the body of Christ. Like football, life works best with boundaries. If we don’t take our opportunities to guide, teach, and model, someone else will—or worse, no one will.
God raised up Samuel to replace Eli. Later, Samuel anointed David to replace Saul, who also missed his moment.
This is serious. In recent years, as I’ve prayed more earnestly than ever, I’ve learned how rare self-sacrifice, loyalty, and a true heart to walk with people in hard seasons can be. The Jesus-follower, and the congregation, who commits to those traits will see hearts changed, starting with our own, and then our community. God is always moving, always raising up someone who will listen, obey, and lead.
Don’t sleep through your opportunity. Wake up to what God is doing, and step into it.
James
Rev. James A. Williams
Senior Pastor
Grace Resurrection Methodist Church
Posted in Rev. James Williams Weekly Blog
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