March 13

1 Samuel 15: 22 – 31

Link to Bible Verses: 1 Samuel 15

Discernment: requires prayer and time, sometimes a lot of time

In verse 24 of chapter 15, Saul owns up and says, “I have sinned, for I have disobeyed the command of the Lord and your instructions. In my fear of the people, I did what they said.” In my fear of the people…

Oh, how many times have I done something, said something, not done something, or not said something out of fear of how others might react. Who among us hasn’t? Whether we are a king, a shepherd (nod to Paster Tari!), a CEO, or a bus driver, we are not exempt from being human, fully human, which means we experience fear.

However, because fear is both an emotional and neurological reality, we have chances to rewire how we respond to fear. I’m not saying we can do away with fear entirely, but we do have opportunities to change how we respond to fear from reacting, as Saul apparently did, to responding. If Saul had responded instead of reacted to his fear of the people, he might have opened space between himself and his fear, space in which he might have discerned God’s will. Developing awareness and honesty around our fears allows us to slow down and be more intentional in what we do with our fears. This slower pace and intentionality create space for discernment, which we can then use as a time to welcome God’s presence and comfort, to encounter our fears differently. And God will always call us toward love as a response to anything.

Thank you to Linda Land-Closson for writing our 2026 Lenten Devotions.