FEAR NOT: Because God Is
Day 9Do Not Turn Away
Scripture
1 Samuel 12:20–22 · · ESV
The Israelites had insisted on a visible king. Even when God warned them about the heavy cost of having one, they wanted to be like the other nations with a king to judge them and fight their battles. King Saul was appointed and, for a time, everything seemed great. He had even won his first big battle.
But then Samuel spoke up. He was old and gray by that time. He stood before the crowd and reminded everyone of all the Lord had done for them since the time of Moses. It was wheat harvest, a time when thunder and rain were unexpected.
Then Samuel called upon the Lord to send thunder and rain to show just how serious their rejection of God’s kingship had been. And sure enough, thunder cracked. The rain began beating against their faces.
They realized their sin.
Some of them probably wanted to run—through the rain, through the mud, anywhere but there in front of Samuel. They may have been thinking, “Perhaps the Lord had finally had enough of our wickedness.”
The people begged Samuel to pray for them because they feared they would die.
And Samuel gave them the words they desperately needed:
Do not be afraid. Yes, you have sinned.
But don’t turn away from the Lord. Don’t turn toward the things that cannot save you.
Serve the Lord. The Lord will not forsake you.
Samuel did not minimize their sin. He named it. They wanted the security of an earthly king, someone visible to trust. Yet the Lord did not walk away from them.
Not because they had not sinned. They definitely had. But for His great name’s sake.
For His honor. His glory.
The king they could see was never their true security. Their trust still belonged with the God they could not see. And as Advent carries us toward Bethlehem, we remember that God did not abandon His people. In God’s appointed time, the long-awaited King would come.
Shame can make us want to hide after failure. I understand that. I forget to honor God at times. I seek recognition and approval from others. And when I know I have failed Him, embarrassment can make me want to run.
Sometimes I hesitate during prayer. I know exactly what I did. And so does God.
Yet because of who He is, He will not forsake me.
Hebrews gives us that assurance:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
Our sin is real. God’s faithfulness is real. So when sin and shame make us want to hide, we need only remember Samuel’s words:
Do not turn aside. Don’t run away.
Turn toward God.
FEAR NOT when your failure makes you want to turn away.
BECAUSE GOD IS faithful and will not forsake His people.
Have you ever let guilt or shame keep you from turning to God?
Prayer
You know everything about me. You know my sin. Sometimes that makes me want to hide. But You will not forsake me. Thank You for Your faithfulness. When I am tempted to turn away, help me turn toward You and trust You with my whole heart.
Amen.
Amelia