Submitting to God transforms our actions. Submission and change are hard, but why? Our sinful nature desires to rebel against God because we think we know more than He does. As an immature believer, I didn’t realize the importance of submitting to God and learned some faith lessons the hard way. You may have experienced something similar in your life.
The Apostle Paul persecuted believers until God intervened in his life. When Paul submitted to God, the Lord changed his life. Paul transformed from a persecutor of the faith to a great missionary. Jonah ran from God until he was thrown overboard in a storm and swallowed by a large fish. Jonah repented and submitted himself to God in the belly of the fish. Not long after, the fish spit Jonah out on dry land. Each time we submit to God, His plans take us in a different direction.
The Act of Submission to God begins With His Intervention
Hagar was a servant to Sarai, Abram’s wife. God had communicated with Abram about the promise of an heir, but doubt began to cloud her judgment as he and Sarai grew older. Sarai persuaded Abram to take Hagar as his wife, believing they could have an heir through her. After Hagar became pregnant, she started to treat Sarai with contempt, causing strife between them.
The overflow of emotions brought out the worst in Sarai, and Hagar fled due to her abuse. In this difficult time, Hagar realized how much God cared for her. Genesis 16:7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur.[1]
The Lord asked Hagar where she was headed, and she replied that she was escaping from her mistress Sarai. God seeks us in our moments of despair. He follows us, speaks to us, and asks, “Where have you come from, and where are you going?” If you feel like Hagar, remember that God is with you and doing more than you might realize.
Hagar Submitted to God
After the Lord spoke to Hagar, He told her what she needed to do. Genesis 16:9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.”[2] Knowing God, who sees us, makes all the difference. It changes our world, and it transformed Hagar’s painful, and powerless life into one filled with promise. God saw her and spoke into her life. Now her eyes were open, and she saw Him.
In humility, she submitted to the Lord and returned to Sarai. At times, God prompts us to establish boundaries and disengage from abuse or mistreatment. In other instances, He encourages us to remain steadfast. He may invite us to endure a challenging marriage or navigate conflict. God desires us to face and resolve our difficulties, and we can do so with His help. He can and will fulfill His purposes for us, even in the most desperate circumstances. Like Hagar, the Lord sees your struggles and hears your pleas. Take the Lord’s hand and allow Him to lead you.
To learn how submitting to God transforms our actions, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/when-we-take-matters-into-our-own-hands
[1-2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.