Praise For The God Who Gives Success

For all the earth is the LORD’s,

and he has set the world in order.

He will protect his faithful ones,

but the wicked will disappear in darkness.

No one will succeed by strength alone.

Those who fight against the LORD will be shattered.

He thunders against them from heaven;

the LORD judges throughout the earth.

He gives power to his king;

he increases the strength of his anointed one.

1 Samuel 2:8-10

Who would ever guess these were the words of a mother who had just given her baby boy to God to be a priest? Instead of despairing over her child, Hannah praised God for blessing her with a son in the first place. Her sacrifice was success in her eyes, because she was committed to following God. Success often occurs because of some type of sacrifice, and joy often follows a period of suffering. Let Hannah’s prayer remind you of the faith needed when you encounter hardship and suffering in your life. God will transform your suffering into success, your weakness into strength.

Hand over your suffering, hardships, and weaknesses to God in prayer. Ask him to use those difficulties in your life to help others.

• Dear Lord, I know that no one will succeed by strength alone. You give power to your people . . .