An Italian Proverb states, “Hope is the last thing ever lost.”
As long as there is hope, we can muster up the strength to endure. But the loss of hope is perhaps the deadliest possible wound to our soul.
Our New Testament scripture says that “against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…”
Even though it seemed impossible and it didn’t make sense, “…yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
This word for hope, elpis in Greek, isn’t a superficial or flippant word like we might tease, “I hope a money tree starts growing in my yard” or “I hope all my favorite teams win the championships while I’m in the front row of every game.” This word elpis indicates true confidence and real expectation, without a doubt in one’s mind. How often do we possess that kind of hope?!
David’s faith in God did not waver when confronted with the Philistine giant, and Abraham’s faith did not waver even though there was no humanly way God’s promise could come true. How awesome that we serve a God not bound by the limits of humanity! Abraham’s belief and hope in God’s promises caused him to be “strengthened in his faith and [give] glory to God” rather than discouraged and straying from the faith.
I want to have a belief against all hope! I pray that we will not waver even when God’s way doesn’t make sense, because His way is higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) and He is able to do more than we could even imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Because of Abraham’s faith and hope, it was credited to him as righteousness (v. 22) – and the next verse indicates that the same righteousness extends to us, if we also choose Jesus!
We as believers must remain focused on our ultimate hope, the return of Jesus and eternal life in the Kingdom. Keep hoping beyond hope. Keep praying. Keep the faith. God is still all powerful! May it be said of us as it was of Abraham: “and yet they did not waver!”
Reflection questions:
What would your life look like if you truly embraced the concept of elpis?
In what specific ways might God be calling you to believe against all hope?
Prayer:
Help us, Lord, to have a deep faith and hope that is beyond all human understanding. May we follow you even when it doesn’t make sense.
-Devotion by Brian K Froehlich – posted on his facebook page on April 11, 2026, where he has been writing and sharing his thoughts as he is reading through the Bible chronologically this year.
There are moments in life where everything seems to hang in the balance. The pressure builds. The clock is ticking. The outcome feels uncertain. And in those moments, what we believe about God is revealed—not by what we say, but by what we do.
That is exactly where we find Saul and Jonathan in these chapters. Two men. Two responses. Two very different outcomes.
Let’s walk through the story together.
Saul has been made king. The people have what they asked for. But almost immediately, we see the tension. The Philistines are gathering. Their army is overwhelming—chariots, soldiers, numbers beyond counting. Meanwhile, Israel is afraid. People are hiding in caves, in holes, anywhere they can find safety.
And Saul is waiting.
He was told to wait for Samuel. Seven days. Wait for God’s instruction. Wait for the offering. Wait for the moment when God would act.
But waiting is hard when fear is loud.
The people are scattering. The pressure is rising. And Saul makes a decision: “Bring me the offering.”
He steps into a role that was not his. He offers the sacrifice himself.
And just as he finishes… Samuel arrives.
The timing is almost painful. If Saul had just waited a little longer.
Samuel’s words cut straight to the heart: “You have done a foolish thing.”
Not because Saul didn’t care. Not because he didn’t want victory. But because he did not trust God enough to wait.
There is a difference between acting in leadership and acting out of fear. Saul’s decision was not rooted in faith—it was rooted in panic.
And here is the lesson for us:
Impatience often looks like responsibility. It feels like we are doing something necessary. But if it steps outside of what God has said, it is not faith—it is fear in motion.
Saul explains himself. “The men were scattering… the Philistines were assembling… I felt compelled.”
“I felt compelled.”
How often do we make decisions based on what we feel in the moment instead of what we know to be true about God?
Saul had clear instruction. But pressure made him rewrite it.
And Samuel tells him something sobering: his kingdom will not endure. God is seeking a man after His own heart.
Now the story shifts.
If chapter 13 shows us fear-driven leadership, chapter 14 shows us faith in action.
Jonathan, Saul’s son, quietly tells his armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf.”
Listen to that carefully.
“Perhaps the Lord will act.”
This is not doubt. This is humility. Jonathan is not presuming on God—but he is also not paralyzed by uncertainty.
He continues: “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
That is faith.
Faith is not having all the answers. Faith is knowing who God is, even when the outcome is unclear.
Jonathan doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. He steps forward based on what he knows about God’s character.
And his armor-bearer responds with one of the most beautiful lines in Scripture: “Do all that you have in mind… I am with you heart and soul.”
Faith has a way of spreading. Courage invites courage.
Jonathan proposes a sign. If the Philistines call them up, they will go—trusting that God has given them victory.
And that is exactly what happens.
Two men climb up a cliff, exposed, vulnerable, outnumbered.
And God moves.
They strike down about twenty men. Panic spreads through the camp. The ground shakes. Confusion overtakes the enemy. What began as a small act of faith becomes a sweeping victory.
Here is the contrast:
Saul had the army, the position, the authority—and acted in fear.
Jonathan had none of those things—and acted in faith.
One rushed ahead without God.
The other stepped forward trusting God.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Saul, seeing the confusion in the Philistine camp, joins the battle. Victory is within reach. But then Saul makes another rash decision.
He puts the army under an oath: no one is to eat until evening, until he has avenged himself on his enemies.
Notice the wording—“until I have avenged myself.”
This is no longer about God’s victory. It has become personal.
The result? The army grows weak. They are exhausted. They cannot fully pursue the enemy.
Jonathan, who did not hear the oath, tastes some honey. His strength returns. And he says plainly, “My father has made trouble for the country.”
It is a powerful moment. The one who acted in faith sees clearly. The one who acted in fear continues to complicate the situation.
Later, the people are so famished that they begin to sin by eating meat with the blood still in it—something God had clearly forbidden.
Fear leads to impatience. Impatience leads to poor decisions. Poor decisions lead others into trouble.
And Saul almost puts Jonathan to death for breaking the oath—until the people intervene and save him.
So what do we take from all of this?
First, waiting on God is not weakness. It is trust. Saul’s failure was not a lack of action—it was a lack of trust in God’s timing.
Second, faith does not require certainty—it requires confidence in who God is. Jonathan did not know exactly what would happen, but he knew God was able.
Third, leadership that is driven by fear will always create burdens. Leadership that is grounded in faith will bring clarity and life.
And finally, small acts of faith can change everything.
Jonathan did not have a large army. He did not have a perfect plan. He simply stepped forward in trust.
And God used that.
There may be areas in life right now where the pressure feels overwhelming. Where the timing feels uncertain. Where the temptation is to act quickly just to relieve the tension.
But these chapters remind us:
Do not let fear make your decisions for you.
Wait when God says wait.
Move when faith calls you forward.
Trust that the God who saves “by many or by few” is still at work.
And remember—He is not limited by your resources, your position, or your circumstances.
He is looking for hearts that trust Him.
Reflection Questions
Brian wrote, “Impatience often looks like responsibility. It feels like we are doing something necessary. But if it steps outside of what God has said, it is not faith—it is fear in motion.” Can you think of a time when you were acting with fear in motion? What was the outcome? What might have been better?
“How often do we make decisions based on what we feel in the moment instead of what we know to be true about God?” What do you know to be true about God regardless of your feelings?
What can you do during the difficult waiting times?
What might God be calling you to do to move forward in faith? Is there another person who could help add courage and faith to this forward, God-honoring movement? Pray about it. Find out what God thinks.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You are a God of power, righteousness, and perfect timing and direction. Help me wait well in waiting seasons and courageously move in faith to follow Your lead and help me know the difference. I confess the times my fear, impatience, and lack of faith have led me away from You and what You have said is best. Help me honor You in my waiting and in my moving.
Today we are sharing the second half of Brian K Froehlich’s devotion on 1 Samuel 9-12 which he posted on his facebook page on April 11, 2026. Brian has faithfully been writing and sharing his thoughts as he reads through the Bible chronologically this year. Become his facebook friend and read along with his I Believe series.
1 Samuel 11 – A Real Victory
Saul leads Israel against the Ammonites (11:6–11).
God’s Spirit comes on him.
He unites the people.
He wins a decisive victory.
This is important.
Saul is not useless.
He is not a joke.
There is real success here.
And the people say:
“Now establish the kingdom in Saul’s hands!” (11:15)
It feels like everything is working.
But success does not always mean approval.
Sometimes God allows something to work
to show something deeper.
⸻
1 Samuel 12 – The Truth Comes Out
Samuel gathers the people and speaks plainly.
First, he asks:
“Have I wronged you?” (12:3)
They answer:
“No.”
Samuel has been faithful.
Then he reminds them:
God delivered you from Egypt.
God saved you again and again.
God raised up leaders when you cried out.
And yet…
“When you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.” (12:12)
There it is again.
God was already their King.
Their problem was not lack of leadership.
Their problem was lack of trust.
⸻
The Key Lesson from These Chapters
God says:
“They have rejected Me as their king.” (1 Samuel 8:7)
But what does God do?
He gives them a king anyway.
A man:
Saul
This is the pattern:
God is the King.
God appoints a human king.
That king rules under God.
That matches what God had already said:
“Be sure to appoint over you a king the LORD your God chooses.” (Deuteronomy 17:15)
The king is chosen by God.
The king is under God.
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Why Saul Was Not Enough
Saul had:
• The look
• The opportunity
• The support
But he could not fix the real problem.
Because the real problem was not enemies.
It was sin.
It was the human heart.
⸻
Then Comes David
A better king.
“A man after His own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)
But even David fails.
So the Bible keeps pointing forward.
God promises:
“Your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)
A future King is coming.
⸻
The One Who Could Do the Job
From David’s line comes:
Jesus Christ
And the Bible describes Him clearly:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
A man.
The right man.
⸻
He is:
• “A man accredited by God” (Acts 2:22)
• The one God raised (Acts 2:24)
• The one God made Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36)
And Jesus says:
“All authority… has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18)
Given.
Not taken.
⸻
How the Story Ends
Even at the end, Scripture says:
“He hands over the kingdom to God the Father.” (1 Corinthians 15:24)
God remains the King.
The Son rules under Him.
⸻
Bringing It All Together
1 Samuel 9–12 is not just about Saul.
It is about a pattern:
God is the King.
People struggle to trust Him.
God appoints a human ruler.
Saul wasn’t the one.
David wasn’t the one.
But God never stopped working.
⸻
The Final Truth
We trust and receive the man Christ Jesus
to lead our world back to God.
Not because He replaced God.
But because God chose Him.
Because He obeyed perfectly.
Because He overcame sin.
Because He was raised to life.
⸻
Saul couldn’t do it.
David couldn’t do it.
Jesus WAS the one for the job.
Jesus IS the one for the job.
Jesus WILL BE the one for the job.
Reflection Questions
What are your impressions of Samuel?
What does the Bible tell us about who Jesus is? What is his relationship with God? What is his relationship with man? What jobs has he already done, is doing now, and will do?
Prayer
Dear God, I praise You for Your perfect plan. You are the All Wise & All Powerful King deserving of my allegiance, love, and obedience. Thank you for the incredible gift of Your Son to draw us close to You, to mediate between God and man, to show us how to please You, to conquer sin, and destroy the enemy, to rule for a time and then hand Your kingdom back to his Father and God. I desire to be a faithful, loving, obedient subject of You and Your perfectly chosen & anointed Messiah. Please show me how to serve well.
Psalms 42 is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. This song of the Sons of Korah is replete with suffering and lamenting coupled with a deep yearning for God’s rescue. I appreciate how the subject of this song is recognizing his downcast and disturbed emotional state and is questioning why he feels that way and then reminds himself to put his hope in God and then makes a conscious choice to still praise Him in spite of how he feels.
In verse 6, the Psalmist decides to manage these downcast feelings by remembering better times. In verse 8, it seems to me that this person uses daily prayer to try to stay close to God:
“By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.” (NIV)
In spite of these efforts, doubts start to creep in during verse 9. The person feels forgotten by God, taunted by their foes who ask “Where is your God?” As they notice their faith wavering, we see them circling back in verse 11 to the same questioning we saw in verse 5 about why they feel so downcast and disturbed. This questioning is then once again quickly followed by a reminder that they will put their hope in God and still choose to praise Him. It’s a resounding chorus that comes around at just the right time.
This roller coaster of feelings is so relatable to me. We can get so bogged down in our trials that God can start to feel so very far away, but that’s when we need to take a cue from the Psalmist here and remember to put our hope in God and make a choice to praise Him. We need a resounding chorus at the ready that reminds us that we can trust God to care for us in our time of need. What would your resounding chorus sound like?
Reflection Questions
What do you generally do when your soul is in despair? Do any of those things put your soul in deeper despair?
What does it look like and sound like to put your hope in God?
When does God deserve our praise? When was your hardest time to praise God, but you did it anyway?
Prayer
Dear God, You are a great God! My desire is to put my hope in You, fully and completely, even and especially on the days my soul is in despair. I want to praise you well all of my days. You are worthy and deserving, my Savior and my God, the giver of all good gifts, including Your Son and salvation. Help me see, feel and remember with deep gratitude. I love you, LORD.
“Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, ‘You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’ Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi.” (Judges 15:18-19, NIV)
This passage demonstrates to me how very temperamental our faith can be at times. Samson honestly seems dramatic and ridiculous. He trusted God to give him victory, yet didn’t trust Him to meet his basic needs. I think we can all be this way. We easily lose sight of the character of God and his son Jesus.
An image comes to mind of Peter boldly stepping out of the boat in faith, quickly followed by Peter’s sheer panic as his faith wavers and he starts to sink. Peter is known as being the impulsive disciple, but I love that he doesn’t get in his head at first in this situation and steps out in faith. He first checks that it’s Jesus who is walking on water in Matthew 14:28: “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water” (NIV). Jesus simply replies with “come” and that was enough for Peter to step out in faith because Peter remembered who Jesus was. Verse 30 paints the very human side of Peter we can all relate to when the cares of the world creep in, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (NIV).
When we lose sight of the character of God and Jesus, that is when our faith wavers. Samson’s faith clearly wavers as noted in the above passage. He gives credit to God for his victory, yet doesn’t trust Him with a tiny thing like helping him find water to drink. It brings to mind Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:31-32: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (NIV) If we find ourselves worrying about our basic needs, it might be time to remind ourselves that we are promised that God knows what we need.
Another thing that stood out to me about the above passage is Samson’s lack of gratitude. He glossed over this monumental thing God did for him and complained he didn’t have any water to drink. As a parent, I have been exasperated by my children when they behaved this way. You work your fingers to the bone to pull off a great event for them and then they manage to complain about a tiny detail. I have been guilty of doing that myself a time or two as well (wink wink). Instead of complaining about a circumstance, maybe we can look for ways to be grateful. No matter the circumstance, you can ALWAYS find something to thank God for. Remember when the apostle Paul was nearly stoned to death in Monday’s reading yet he and Barnabas got up the next day and continued their mission, encouraged others and praised God. We are challenged in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to maintain a posture of gratitude in any circumstance we encounter, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (NIV). Will we choose to rise to this challenge?
REflection Questions
What do you think of the statement: “When we lose sight of the character of God and Jesus, that is when our faith wavers”?
How does complaining or worry affect your faithfulness?
Do you trust God for the Big Things in your life, but neglect to trust Him with the small things?
Think of one of the hardest times in your life. What did you still have to be grateful for during that time? What are the benefits (to yourself, to those around you, and in your relationship with God) when you are grateful? What can you be grateful for today? Remind yourself throughout the day.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for all You are and all You do, including giving the gift of Your Son. I want to know You both more and more. Forgive me for my worry and complaining when I am not properly focused on You, who You are, Your Son Jesus, what he taught, what he did for me, and the Coming Kingdom You are preparing. Help me see what You want me to see and be grateful. Help my faith to grow.
Two years ago, I wrote a devotion for Seek Grow Love on one of my favorite Psalms, Psalms 37. I’m going to re-post the devotion today, but this time share some context about what was going on in my life the night I wrote it.
I was supposed to have dinner with my brother and his wife, who happens to be one of my best friends. She was in the early stages of her first pregnancy after a long fertility struggle. That morning I received a text from my brother saying dinner was going to be pushed until later in the evening. In the afternoon, he sent a text cancelling dinner. When I asked if everything was alright, I didn’t get a response….and I knew. I knew they had lost the baby. I buried myself under 20 pounds of weighted blanket and slept for two hours. It was one of the top five worst nights of my life. I knew they were hurting. I kept flashing back to this memory of when my brother and I were really little, playing dress up, and he got his foot cut from one of the cheap plastic high heels. I remember seeing him bleeding, running over to him and calling out for a parent to come help. I wanted to run to him now, but I couldn’t. I knew they needed space.
After my nap, I called my dad to see if he’d heard anything from them. He thought I was being overdramatic and convinced me to get something to eat. About an hour later he called, saying he got a text from my brother about them having a miscarriage.
By this time, I still had a devotion to write. On that sad, desperate night, this is what came out of my heart:
Almost the entirety of Act 7 is Stephen’s response to the charges brought against him from our previous reading. Stephen gives a beautiful sermon, outlining the history of the Israelite people. His sermon shows how time after time, the Israelites were unfaithful and persecuted the prophets. He asks the leaders of the high council when they will stop resisting the truth. Stephen forms a sound argument with the tools of a great orator utilizing ethos, logos and pathos. However, I want to just focus on one small line today.
Stephen retells the story of when Moses went to Mount Sinai and the Israelites rebelled. He says the Israelites, “made an idol shaped like a calf, and they sacrificed and celebrated over this thing they had made.” (Acts 7:41 NLT). Celebrated this thing they had made. That caught my attention.
How often do we get carried away with our own success? How often do we put value in material things? How often do we forget Christ’s words to seek first the Kingdom of God? (Matt 6:33). We live in an age where knowledge, entertainment, and relationships are literally at our fingertips. Not to sound like a broken record, but it is so easy to get wrapped up in our own lives, the things we can make, things we can buy. God needs to be made a priority in our lives. He is someone we need to communicate with daily, thank and praise. Otherwise, we run the risk of celebrating over the things we have made and turning those things into idols.
These things may not be physical. They also may not always be bad or wrong. Sometimes the thing we are trying to make is a dream or notion of something. Maybe a job promotion, an engagement, a family. It’s when these desires become our only focus a problem occurs. The Greek term used in Stephen’s statement is the word euphrainó which literally means to “cheer, make merry.” Our happiness should not be placed solely in these things.
The Israelites made the golden calf when Moses went to talk to God at Mount Sinai. Moses was their leader and connection to God. Suddenly, to the Israelites, God felt distant. It is then they began to see what joy they could offer themselves and celebrate with their own idols. Sometimes, God may feel distant. At times we may face periods of loneliness, sadness, even anger. When this happens, we MUST heed the words in Psalms 37:4 “Take delight in the LORD.”
The rest of that verse in Psalms offers us a promise: “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” I am not saying God always answers prayers for those who put their true delight in following Him. He does not. I know many godly people who have given their lives in faithfulness to Him and still face difficulty and unanswered prayers. However, I do sincerely believe when we start to delight in the LORD, when we celebrate Him, something in our hearts begins to change. We still have dreams and goals, but our heart’s desire becomes wanting a true connection with God, a deep relationship with our creator, the one who gave us those very dreams we have.
Several times in my life I have felt defeated, lost, and alone. I have had to grieve lost dreams, goals, relationships. I’ve had to mourn a life I imagined for myself. The lyrics to Phil Stacey’s song “You’re Not Shaken” describes this feeling of helplessness perfectly: “When every little thing that I have dreamed would be/ Just slips away like water through my hand.” That’s what brokenness can feel like at times. Like reaching out your hand and trying to cling to something that isn’t there. In these moments it’s imperative we take our delight in the LORD. Slowly, He will fix our gaze on something better than what we had lost. Even when that thing we lost was good.
One year, three months, and twenty-four days later I sent the following text message to my dad after meeting my brother’s newborn daughter for the first time.
“She is so cute and soooo snuggly. I heard you might be going over later tonight. Ben and Becca are amazing parents. Ben gave me his phone and I took pictures of all three of them together. Watching them read to her, I had to hold back tears. It was truly a moment that shows joy comes in the morning.”
Reflection Questions:
What is something in your life that could easily become a distraction from taking delight in the LORD?
How can you ensure your heart is in the right place even when dealing with grief and sadness?
Is there a time in your life you experienced loss, took refuge and delight in the LORD and experienced joy in the morning? If so, I encourage you to share with someone this week. God’s good deeds deserve to be praised and told over and over again!
Prayer:
Dear God,
You are so so good. Thank You for stories like Ben and Becca’s. Thank You for the life of this promised little baby. Thank You for this reminder of Your faithfulness. May I take refuge and delight in You, and may You guide and guard my path.
As we start off in Acts 4 today, the priests, the captain of the guard, and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John “greatly agitated” because they were teaching and proclaiming in Jesus (Yeshua) the resurrection from the dead. If you recall the breakdown of the “4 Philosophies” at that time, the Sadducees were “A priestly and aristocratic group who accepted only the written Torah (Pentateuch) as authoritative, rejected the oral law, and did not believe in resurrection or an afterlife.” So of course they were greatly agitated, because as a group they did not believe in resurrection…”So they were sad, you see?” (that bad joke was stolen from Sean Finnegan’s wonderful and highly recommended podcast on Restitutio.org, which you really should give a listen to, seriously).
The chapter goes on to tell that the religious authorities of the day grabbed them, detained them and questioned them fiercely, then released them but not before threatening them to stop talking about such things. Their response is telling: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to hear you rather than God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19, LSB). Bear in mind, these were not just some guys, these were the religious leaders of the day, the authorities, the high priest (and his descendants, Acts 4:6) and represented the final say in spiritual matters at the time. It’s no wonder that they were marvelling at their confidence (Acts 4:13), this sort of behavior was unheard of amongst the Jews, you just didn’t defy the priests typically.
After they are released, they went to their own people and offered praise to God. Please pay special attention to their wording, because it clearly defines the doctrine of the earliest church here in Acts 4: 24-31. Without belaboring this beyond the last 2 days devotionals, please note that there is a clear delineation here, and a tiered level of authority that is clearly demonstrated with God (YHVH, the Creator, the Most High God) in authority over His servant Yeshua, Ha’Mashiach (Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One) who is in turn in authority over his servants, us (the ecclesia, or church). We serve God through Yeshua, His servant and our King, whom God has anointed and established over humanity. This is repeated throughout scripture and succinctly restated in 1 Cor 11:3. It is highly problematic to insist on any other doctrinal statement, at least if you don’t want to stand in opposition to scripture. Peter and John confidently stood firmly against the religious giants of their day, the religious authorities who had gotten off course, and continued to speak the word of God. We face our own giants today, don’t we?
Here’s an interesting thing. Even if you have a map, even if you plan your route well, even if you have a compass; if you get even just a tiny bit off course you don’t end up where you wanted. A matter of just 1 degree off, and you could end up hundreds of miles away from where you wanted to be. The farther you go, the greater the error becomes. In my youth, I had gotten off course (see the Feb 5th devotional for some of the sordid details). I was in genuine fear for my life, because I was facing giants, and I knew that I could not win. I had resigned in my mind that the best I could hope for was to inflict maximum damage in return on my way into death and was quite prepared to do so. Psalms 35 really reminds me of that time, and of the mercy of God, who saved me. I won’t go into detail here, but know that this Psalm is an intensely personal one for me because it accurately sums up a time when I faced giants, and lived. Not by my actions, but by the grace of God alone and because God intervened in ways I could not have predicted or understood to remove the threat from my path (literally and physically, in some instances). Then, in an overwhelming display of unwarranted love, he corrected my path. I don’t even have the words to express my appreciation. Praise God!
As we dip into our Joshua reading today, we’re going to focus on a couple things that a lot of folks just skim over. Remember the old song, “12 men went to Canaan land (10 were bad and 2 were good!)”? That story is detailed in Numbers 13 and 14, and gives us a bit more understanding. In Num 13:33 it says “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (LSB). There’s a very simple and straightforward reason for this, and it’s because those guys were giants! So who were the Nephilim? Great question! Flip back over to Genesis 6:4 where it says: “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them…” (LSB)**. So the Nephilim were the offspring of “the sons of God” (ie, angels or some other form of heavenly being which God created) and humans, according to scripture. **For an extremely interesting apocryphal account of this, read the book of Enoch (it’s quoted in the book of Jude, but didn’t make it into the cut for “canonical”).
So, when the Israelites encounter ACTUAL GIANTS on the way in to the promised land, they got scared, rebelled, and as a result ended up wandering in the wilderness for another 40 years until the voices of dissension had (quite literally) died out (see Num 13&14 for the full story). In Joshua 12, we’ve returned after 40 years to “try again”. Now, when the Israelites are doing as God commanded and taking the promised land, it states: “Then Joshua…cut off the Anakim…(and) devoted them to destruction. There were no Anakim left…only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod some remained” (Joshua 12:21-22, LSB). In Josh 12:4, “Og king of Bashan” seems to be another one, “one of the remnant of the Rephaim”. Remember where Goliath was from, by the way? See there (I slipped in another cross reference)? Do you think he was larger or smaller than the others of his kind like him? Trivia aside though, the point is: this time they obeyed God, and they succeeded.
My point in bringing up these things is this: in our lives, sometimes we are given tasks that seem daunting. Sometimes, we are called upon to fight giants. Giants are, by their very nature, big and scary. Many times they will stand and taunt us. I’d point out in counterpoint that we’ve got a great big God; much bigger than any giant, and He fights for us, when we are doing His will. It doesn’t matter how big your particular giant is, God is bigger. As I write this devotion, it is the Sabbath before Easter Sunday. When I consider the overwhelming love and power of our God, and the generous offer of salvation to us gentiles, I am truly humbled. When I think about what His Anointed One suffered on my account, I am overwhelmed. When God raised up His servant Jesus again, it let me know that there is no giant that can overwhelm me. I may go down into the dirt, but I will stand again. God has this.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Did you ever realize, or even think about, where the actual biblical “giants” came from?
Each of us have our own metaphorical “giants”. What are yours?
How many times has God conquered a giant for you; a problem you just couldn’t see a way around, a danger that you couldn’t escape, an intimidating moral dilemma? Reflect on them all for a moment, and consider the goodness of God.
Why is it that when we see a “giant” we forget how big God is sometimes?
PRAYER
Father God, Creator and Sustainer of all life, thank you. Please help me to remember that I am not my own and that you bought me, and that the price paid for me was far too high. Please forgive me when I am scared, and give me the strength to do your will, even if it’s to conquer giants. Thank you for sending Yeshua, my King. Thank you for life, breath, and all things. In Jesus name, Amen.
As a new parent, there is little you are truly prepared for. You are not prepared for the noise—the deafening cry of a child who is wet, hungry, or simply needs to be held in the middle of the night. In those moments, exhaustion sets in, emotions wear thin, and clear thinking feels out of reach. No one expects a sleep-deprived, emotionally fatigued parent to make calm, selfless decisions; yet, this is exactly where trust is formed. In the noise, in the uncertainty, in moments where no clear solution seems apparent, you respond in faith, in commitment to your child.
“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not given me into the hands of the enemy, but have set my feet in a spacious place.” Psalm 31:5-8
“I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect. and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Deuteronomy 32:3-5
In Mark 15, the noise reaches a deafening level. Jesus stands before Pilate as accusations are hurled and expectations rise. The crowd grows louder, more insistent, crying out for crucifixion. The pressure is relentless. There is no reasonable path forward that leads to life. Yet in the pulling undertow, as the hope of exoneration moves further and further away from the shore, Jesus trusts his Heavenly Father to deliver him. In the piercing, the crushing, the beating, the bruising, and the relentless barrage of physical and emotional punishment, Jesus still quenches the requirement of His offering, trusting God will not only deliver Him, but is acting divinely, doing no wrong, and showing an infinite love.
Reflecting on this model of Jesus, when tensions are high or we watch life unravel around us, are we ready to stand firm, trusting our Heavenly Father’s nature?
This is the God who rescued mankind on the darkest day of human history. The day that each of us condemned Christ, the only innocent life to walk on earth, is the day we call Good.
Reflect on this: God can redeem ANY day and call it good.
The loud, life-altering noise can be victory if we are obedient.
What I realized in our second go around with an infant is that the cry that was disconcerting and dissonant can also confirm that a child is alive and well. Often we pray that God will take away the noise so we have a moment to catch our breath, to think, to sleep, to figure out a plan. The Creator of the universe needs no assurances from us other than assured obedience: to act in love for those who despise us and to feed his sheep. Who we are as parents or followers of Christ is defined in the presence of pressure, not in the absence
Jesus trusted his Father even when none of what was happening made sense, or the outrage and consequences felt unmerited and unjust. That same faithfulness is cutting through the noise and calling us today.
Reflection Questions
What noise, pressure, fear, or frustration tempts your faithfulness?
What is the Good of Good Friday? How can God redeem ANY day and call it good? What good have you seen come from noise, pressure, fear or frustration in the life of others? What about in your own life?
Aaron wrote Jesus is “trusting God will not only deliver Him, but is acting divinely, doing no wrong, and showing an infinite love.” What do you trust about God and His character, even on the noisiest, hardest day?
Prayer
In the noise of life—when everything feels loud, overwhelming, and uncertain—teach me to trust You. When exhaustion sets in and my thoughts are unclear, help me respond not out of fear or frustration, but out of faith and commitment. Thank You for Jesus, who stood in the noise of accusation and suffering and chose to trust You. When the pressure was relentless and the path forward made no sense, He remained faithful.
Help me to see that even the noise has purpose. Just as a child’s cry is a sign of life, remind me that You are still working in the tension, still present in the uncertainty, still faithful in every moment. Teach me to follow Jesus—to trust You when I do not understand, to stand firm when life feels overwhelming, and to believe that You are redeeming even what feels broken.
In The name of Your Son who poured out Himself as a sacrifice, Amen.
Waiting is hard. We all know this. We have all had things we’ve prayed for, waited on receiving. Patience truly is a virtue.
Waiting is scary. It’s hard to be still. We feel we should be doing something. Sadly we don’t recognize waiting on God as something worth doing. We become anxious in those still moments God is building character. We begin to question, to doubt.
The end of Psalms 27 describes waiting as brave and courageous (v. 14 NLT). Sometimes being still is the bravest thing a person can do. It takes courage to put your trust in something other than what you yourself can produce.
Throughout various points in my life, God has called me to seasons of waiting. It’s hard. I never really thought of it as courageous or brave, just something I sadly had to experience. Had someone plainly told me back then, my decision to wait on God’s revelation was an act of bravery and not defeated surrender, I might have responded to those situations with more joy and hope.
And so, I’m keeping it short and simple, today. For those of you that find themselves in a season of waiting, take heart and hope from the words of David. Your decision to wait on God and trust in His timing is brave. You are not doing nothing. You are taking a courageous step of faith. Do not let the barren wasteland of waiting rob you of the hope and joy we have in our Awesome God.
Reflection Questions:
Think back to a season of your life where you were waiting. What difference would your response have been to that time if you had been told your waiting was an act of bravery and courage? Is there someone in your life today that needs to be told this?
Are you in a season of waiting? How is waiting brave? How is it courageous?
Check out the song “Take Courage” by Kristine DiMarco. I prefer the radio version found here: https://youtu.be/Ehw0FWFGl_A How does this song relate to our topic of waiting, today?
Prayer:
Dear LORD,
It is in You that I put my hope, my trust. Let me stand firm in the security of Your word, even during the uncertain waiting periods of my life. You are the one who delivers me. You will rescue me from my deep waters. Let me be still enough to hear You. Let me be brave enough to wait for You.
In the name of the one who delivers, Your son, Jesus Christ,
As an educator of a dozen years, I find that I have a handful of what I call “pocket TED talks” that I return to time and time again as a way of conveying convincing life lessons to students. These are well-practiced insights that I return to most upon hearing a common signal word or phrase. For example, one cue is the word “just,” which minimizes any role or behavior, demonstrating our belief in its importance. The second, and more relevant to today’s topic, is “what if…” I have heard this opening phrase almost every single day as a history teacher and a principal. “What if World War 3 started today?” “What if there was a real fire in the building?” While I might provide a framing or a forecast, I say you cannot predict the future, but you can look to the past as a tell of what is most likely to happen.
At the opening of Deuteronomy, we find Israel still moving, but now at the edge of the Promised Land. From both a literal and figurative mountaintop, Moses pauses to look backward. He recounts their journey; the victories, the failings, the wandering, and the waiting are all part of his retelling. It is the spiritual season recap for God’s people, who have the tendency to forget.
“The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” — Deuteronomy 2:7
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.” — Psalm 24:3–6
Below is a list of some of these important reminders we find in today’s reading. Reflect on the history that is presented to us and consider your own. As we stand at the edge of the coming Kingdom of God, take a moment to survey from the mountaintop.
– God gave manna when there was no food in the desert. Jesus duplicates this in the feeding of thousands while the crowd waited for spiritual sustenance. Reflect on your own blessings of daily bread and how God has given you what you need to live today.
– God directs Israel’s path, guiding them as a cloud by day, fire by night, and through his direction to Moses. Jesus duplicates this when he asks each of us to bear our cross and follow him, showing us the way to live. Reflect on your own walk with God and the path He has you on, and the people he has brought alongside you for the journey.
– God remained faithful to the people of Israel even when they worshiped other gods and disobeyed direct instructions. Jesus remains faithful to his disciples even when they gripe about not having bread shortly after watching the very same miracle performed. Reflect on the faithfulness of God to you. Remember how God has shown up in the most difficult seasons.
– God was on the side of his people in battle, bringing them victory. The death of Jesus, as God’s design, is a battle that Jesus came to fight on our behalf once and for all. While it might be easy to reflect on your current battle, reflect instead on God’s gift of Jesus Christ as a sacrifice oflove, restoring us to Him.
If you are “just” waiting for an answer in the present, or you are reeling in “what ifs” about the future, pause to remember the Lord. The wandering has not been wasted. He has made a path with a purpose. No doubt, we are not out of the wilderness, but we are also at the edge of promise.
Reflection Questions
See bold faced reflection above
Prayer
Dear God Almighty – I praise You for Your faithfulness and mercy. Over and over again You provide for me and You show me which way to go. I thank You for being such a GOOD GOD to me, every day in my past, all day today, and every day in the future. Thank you for the incredible gift of Your Son and the Kingdom You are preparing for those who accept and follow Jesus. Everyday, it is getting closer. Everyday, help me move closer to You, too.
Seek Grow Love 