The Lord's Faithful Hand

By Danny Saavedra

“‘Do not be afraid,’ Samuel replied. ‘You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.’”—1 Samuel 12:20–22 (NIV)

Have you ever broken something valuable—something you weren’t sure could ever be fixed? Maybe it was a family heirloom, maybe it was your dad’s brand new Thanos Infinity Gauntlet mug (I’m still not over that), or maybe it was a window playing baseball (I totally did that a lot as a kid LOL). But maybe it was something worse than a window . . . maybe you broke someone’s trust. That sinking feeling of guilt and regret can be overwhelming, and the thought of restoring what was lost may feel impossible. But when it comes to our relationship with God, His faithfulness shines brighter than even our worst failures.

In 1 Samuel 12, the Israelites were facing the consequences of their decision to demand a king. Despite Samuel’s warnings, they insisted on having a human ruler like the other nations, rejecting God’s leadership in the process. Their request wasn’t just a political shift, it was a spiritual rebellion. Yet, even in the midst of their sin, Samuel reassures them with a message of hope: God’s faithfulness remains steadfast.

Samuel acknowledges their sin but calls them to turn back to the Lord. “Do not turn away after useless idols,” he warns, reminding them that only the Lord can rescue and provide. Isn’t that true for us as well? How often do we chase after “idols” in our lives—success, relationships, money, or even comfort—only to find they leave us empty? These things can never truly save us or give us lasting joy. They’re just as powerless as the idols of wood and stone the Israelites were tempted by.

But Samuel doesn’t stop there. He reminds the people of God’s incredible faithfulness: “For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.” Think about that for a moment. God doesn’t remain faithful because of anything we’ve done, He does so for the sake of His own name and glory. His love and commitment to us are rooted in who He is, not who we are. Even when we stumble, His mercy is there to catch us.

As followers of Christ, we can cling to this same truth. When Jesus died on the cross, He took on all of our guilt, shame, and rebellion. His blood paid the price for our sins, and through Him, we’ve been adopted into God’s family. Like the Israelites, we don’t deserve this grace, but God offers it freely because of His great love.

So, what can you do when you find yourself in a place of failure? Samuel gives us the answer: Serve the Lord with all your heart. Repentance isn’t just about turning away from sin, it’s about turning toward God with renewed devotion and obedience. It’s about letting go of the things that pull you away from Him and fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2).

No matter what you’ve done or how far you’ve wandered, God’s hand remains outstretched. He’s calling you to return to Him, to lay down your idols, and to serve Him wholeheartedly. His faithfulness never falters, and His love never fails. For the sake of His great name, He will never reject you. He was pleased to make you His own.

Pause: How does God’s faithfulness give you hope when you feel like you’ve fallen short?

Practice: Take some time today to reflect on the “idols” in your life—things that may be distracting you from fully serving God. Confess these to Him and ask for His strength to Him with all your heart.

Pray: Father, thank You for Your unchanging faithfulness and mercy. I confess my tendency to chase after things that cannot save or satisfy. Help me to lay them down and serve You with all my heart. Thank You for loving me despite my failures and for making me Your own. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.