Essential 100

Pastor's Meditation for the Week:

The Need for Discernment

Have you ever had a nagging thought or been prompted to say or do something and wondered if that was the Lord calling you? Have you been at a crossroads in your life and needed a clear direction from the Lord and are not sure you are getting it?  These circumstances all deal with the need for discernment. Our E100 scripture this week on the call of Samuel gives us some insight in this process of discernment.

First of all Samuel hears someone calling him. He uses his logic and memory and determines that it must be Eli. Eli has obviously called to him at night in the past, so he responds. He goes to Eli and finds out that he is not calling him. When we are confused and think we may have received a call, it is important to first of all apply our thinking skills to the situation. The Lord gave us rational minds and expects us to use them to explore all the options.

Secondly, we find Samuel returning to Eli the second time seeking clarification. Perhaps now he is beginning to need some help in figuring this out. The text says he does not know the Lord and the Lord’s voice and so he is uncertain. Again he is told that Eli had not called him. As we explore our call, we often come to the end of our reasoning skills and memory to find the connections we need in the discernment process and so we need to consider asking for help.

The Lord calls a third time. Again Samuel goes to Eli.  By this time the child must have been confused and really concerned. It is at this point that Eli gets an epiphany and says to himself this must be the Lord speaking. He then gives Samuel instructions on what to do if he hears the voice again. At times, in the  process of discernment ,we need the co-listening skills and advice from other brothers and sisters.  We need others to listen for the voice of God with us.

 We learn from this story that it perfectly natural as well as important to question the call and seek out others to help us in the process of discernment. As a Christian community we need to offer our gifts and spiritual listening skills to each other in the process. For example, my church in Atlanta had a formal process called a discernment council that was available to meet with congregants who were struggling with direction in their life, career change, move, etc. A group of willing prayed up folks would meet with the person, sometimes over several weeks to listen and share for the purpose of hearing the Lord’s direction for them. I was privileged to be a part of several of these discernment groups. They were truly the community of faith in action in the process of hearing God’s call. It was very helpful for all you were involved, especially for the person who needed discernment.

So the bottom line hear is be like Samuel, do not be afraid to use your logic and memory, and use the discerning help of fellow believers when you are struggling with a call on your life. We also have two essential tools that Samuel did not have:  the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. A combination of all of these discernment tools can make all the difference in our own process of discernment.