WONDER | Wednesday | 8/26

Availability Over Ability

1 Samuel 3:1–10

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

² At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; ³ the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. ⁴ Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” ⁵ and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. ⁶ The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” ⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. ⁸ The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹ Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰ Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

One of the challenges given to our students this summer was that God is not waiting on our ability, but our availability.

We often begin with ability: Am I good at this? Am I qualified? Do I know what I'm doing?

God often begins somewhere else: Are you willing?

Samuel's response was simply, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” He didn't know everything God was going to ask of him. He simply made himself available.

Maybe God is calling you to serve someone. Maybe to forgive someone. Maybe to break an unhealthy pattern that has been passed down through your family. Maybe to step into something that feels beyond your ability.

You don't have to know exactly how God will use you. Sometimes faithfulness simply begins with open hands and the words, “Lead, and I will follow.” 

Reflect

Where might God be asking for your availability right now?

Pray

God, I give you what I have. Shape me, lead me, and use me however you desire. Make me available to you today. Amen.