Fear not, go and do as thou hast said.

1 Kings 17:13

Sweet friends, it’s one thing to commit a decision to the Lord when the circumstance is hypothetical; it’s another thing entirely when hypothetical becomes reality. I know the phrase “fear not, go and do as thou has said” is from Elijah’s life story, but often it reminds me more of Hannah’s life story (1 Samuel 1:2 – 2:21).

You see, Hannah was married to Elkanah, who, as was customary at the time, had more than one wife. The other wife, Peninnah, had several children with Elkanah, but the Bible tells us that Hannah’s womb was closed. She was unable to become pregnant and it grieved her because, in that time, it was shameful for a woman to be barren and on top of the societal pressure to conceive, Peninnah, her husband’s other wife, was cruel to her and mocked her because she could not have children; the Bible refers to Peninnah as Hannah’s rival (1 Samuel 1:6). As a result, Hannah fell into depression and wept and would not eat (1 Samuel 1:7-8).

Hannah prayed to the Lord for a child, and one day, in a silent prayer so fervently mouthed that the priest Eli accused her of being drunk, she promised God that if He would give her a child, she would give the child back to Him (1 Samuel 1:11). Her faith in that moment was so strong that God granted her petition and gave her a son, whom she named Samuel.

In my mind though, the real testament to her faith is that, when the time came, she gave Samuel back to God with no ifs, ands, or buts (1 Samuel 1:24-28). Hannah followed through with her commitment at great cost to herself as a mother without fear or hesitation. Furthermore, she followed through with her promise even though it put her right back where she started with the rival in her home – childless and ridiculed.

Dear hearts, every word of Scripture is for our benefit.

“Fear not, go and do as thou has said”, is just as much for you and me today as it was for its intended audience of old and it means just as much for you and me to go and do what we have said as it did for Hannah to follow through on her promise to God.

Brothers and Sisters, may we all be found as faithful as Hannah when God says it’s time to make good on our commitment!

May we all give all graciously, without fear or hesitation, whatever the cost, no ifs, ands, or buts!

To ensure you never miss a devotion, consider subscribing to email updates below.