Category: Life & Spiritual Reflections

Sometimes, the deepest lessons from a burial come not from the sermon—but from a silent glance, a soft song, or even the sting of being snubbed.

I had just begun a five-day break from work. On the very first day, I joined four church friends for a burial trip upcountry. We travelled in one of the group’s personal vehicles — five of us, light conversation, laughter, and that easy road-trip rhythm that makes you forget your responsibilities for a while.

We joked about snacks, playlists, and who would “represent us well” when it came to serving food later. The mood was great — no heaviness yet, just the warmth of familiar company and gospel music humming softly in the background.

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Arriving Early: The Quiet Observer

We arrived early, before most guests. The place was buzzing with people reconnecting — long-lost cousins, former classmates, and neighbors exchanging small talk.

The introvert in me quietly drifted away, found an empty seat under one of the tents, and scrolled my phone as I waited. Sometimes silence is comfort, especially when surrounded by noise that doesn’t require your participation.

Soon, the atmosphere softened. A young man began to sing soulful gospel tunes, accompanied by gentle piano chords. His voice carried through the air — calm, pure, and deeply moving.

That’s when I took a proper look around. We were in a large school compound, with tents arranged in a U-shape. Behind us stood a storied classroom block, and faint sounds of schoolchildren drifted through the windows. Life, as always, moving on.

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The Ceremony and the Sermon I Forgot

The program began: opening prayers, family tributes, and stories about the deceased — a 46-year-old man described as kind, hardworking, and devoted.

Then came the sermon. I wish I remembered what the preacher said, but I honestly don’t. Maybe my mind wandered, maybe grief numbed me, or maybe I was just tired from the journey.

Yet even without recalling the words, I remember the feeling — that quiet reminder that our days are limited, and our impact on others is what truly remains.

For more reflections like this, you can read my earlier post “The Thankless Job of a Hero: The Cost of Leadership”, where I explored how even unnoticed acts can shape lives.

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The Moment I Was Snubbed

Then came the offering time. My friends were seated on my right, and to my left was a lady holding a copy of the eulogy booklet that included the hymn lyrics.

The songs were in my vernacular language — beautiful, nostalgic, filled with childhood memories of church choirs and shared faith. I leaned over politely and asked if I could borrow her booklet so I could sing along.

She looked at me briefly… then looked away. No response. No explanation. Just silence.

For a few seconds, I froze. It wasn’t anger I felt — more of surprise. Maybe even embarrassment. I smiled weakly and sat back, pretending it didn’t matter, but inside, something ached.

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Reflecting on the Snub

As the service went on, I kept thinking about it. Maybe she was grieving. Maybe she was guarding her copy. Or maybe she just didn’t feel like sharing.

We never really know what people are carrying. Still, the moment stuck with me — not because it was cruel, but because it was a quiet lesson.

How often do we overlook small opportunities to be kind? A smile. A shared booklet. A simple acknowledgment. They cost nothing, yet they can warm even the coldest moments.

Later, during the drive back, I hummed one of the hymns softly to myself and realized — the lesson wasn’t about being snubbed. It was about keeping a soft heart even when the world forgets gentleness.

If you’ve ever been in a similar situation, you might relate to “Handling Unstable Customers in Customer Care Kenya”, where I wrote about staying calm and kind in challenging moments.

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Lessons from a Burial: Small Kindnesses that Matter

Every experience — even a burial — carries a hidden message. For me, this one whispered three truths that have stayed with me:

1. People are layered.
   We see reactions, not reasons. Everyone is fighting invisible battles.
2. Silence teaches.
   The moments we’re ignored or overlooked often sharpen our empathy.
3. Kindness never expires.
   You don’t lose anything by being kind — even when others aren’t.

It reminded me of something I once wrote in Blending Technology and Human Care:

“The heart of every interaction — digital or human — is empathy.”

And it’s true. Whether in customer service, at home, or in a rural funeral gathering, our behavior toward others is what defines us most.

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Books That Shape Emotional Awareness

After returning home, I journaled about the experience. That’s when I realized I had unconsciously been collecting books that teach kindness and awareness — small daily practices that keep the heart open.

If you’ve ever struggled to stay kind when the world feels indifferent, these reads might speak to you:

• 📖 The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life — a powerful reminder that empathy is strength, not weakness.
• 📖 The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck — timeless wisdom on love, discipline, and spiritual growth.
• 📖 Atomic Habits by James Clear — practical steps for small, consistent changes that transform who we become.

Each of these books has taught me that emotional maturity isn’t built in grand gestures — it’s nurtured in the small, daily choices to stay kind, calm, and aware.

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Grace in the Mundane

When I think about those five days off, that trip stands out — not for the food, or the speeches, but for that one quiet moment that changed how I see people.

Life is full of individuals who will ignore you, misunderstand you, or simply overlook your presence. But when you choose gentleness over bitterness, you win a quiet victory every single time.

Next time you’re tempted to withhold a small act of kindness — whether it’s sharing a seat, offering a smile, or lending a hymnbook — remember: someone might be silently needing that grace.

Because the greatest lessons from a burial often come long after the grave is covered — in how we choose to live, love, and extend compassion while we still can.

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Related Reads:

• The Thankless Job of a Hero: The Cost of Leadership
• Customer Service in Microfinance
• Blending Technology and Human Care
• Serving Behind the Scenes in Church

Outbound Resource:
Learn more about empathy and human connection from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley.

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💬 Join the Reflection

What small moment has ever taught you a big lesson?
Share your story in the comments below or tag me on Facebook — I’d love to hear your reflection.

✨ Explore my recommended reads and tools on Amazon — they’ve shaped many of the stories you read here.

There is a particular kind of courage—silent and invisible—that only a mother understands. It’s the kind that wakes up in the middle of the night to soothe a crying child. It’s the kind that faces hospital reports, school fees deadlines, and uncertain futures with clenched fists and quiet prayers. In Exodus 2:1–4, we meet a Levite woman—later named Jochebed—who carried the weight of being a mother in the most dangerous time for a Hebrew woman to give birth.

She birthed a baby boy under a death sentence. Pharaoh had ordered all Hebrew male babies to be thrown into the Nile. Yet Scripture says, “When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months.” (Exodus 2:2).

But what mother doesn’t think her child is beautiful? Every mother looks at her child and sees hope—even when the world offers none.

In this blog post, we will unpack the emotional, spiritual, and practical weight mothers carry. We’ll also draw parallels between Jochebed’s boldness and the burdens mothers carry today—especially those trying to float what they can no longer carry. This is for every mother carrying invisible pain, battling silent fears, and daring to trust God with their child’s future.

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When Hiding Becomes Survival

Let’s pause and ask the real questions:
How do you hide a pregnancy under an oppressive regime?
How do you give birth without being heard or reported?
How do you keep a baby quiet for three months, knowing every cry could mean death?

Jochebed’s story isn’t just miraculous—it’s strategic, gritty, and filled with the kind of faith that operates in the shadows. Mothers today may not be hiding from Pharaoh’s soldiers, but many are hiding:

• Their pain from friends who wouldn’t understand.
• Their fears from children who need their strength.
• Their exhaustion from families who rely on them.
• Their financial struggles, piecing together meals or rent behind brave smiles.

She hid her baby. Today, some mothers hide their tears behind locked bathroom doors. Others hide hunger, wearing the mask of “I’ve already eaten.” The weight of being a mother is not just about raising a child—it’s about carrying the unseen emotional and spiritual load that comes with nurturing life in uncertain times.

Want to know what it’s like to face fear and still take action? Read Take the Leap of Becoming Afraid—a reflection on courage, fear, and taking risks when the outcome is unknown.

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Weaving the Basket: A Mother’s Silent Faith

When Jochebed could no longer hide the child, she didn’t just give up. Instead, she built a basket.

What a symbolic act that was.

She went out to gather papyrus, tar, and pitch. With every stroke of her hand, she layered prayer. With every thread she weaved, she whispered hope. The Nile had claimed many babies before—but she was trusting that this time, God would intervene.

Have you ever had to let go of something dear?

• A child going off to school far away?
• A dream that’s no longer sustainable?
• A hope that seems too painful to carry?

Mothers are weavers. They build safety with broken pieces. They patch baskets with faith. And they send their children into the world—into dangers they cannot control—believing that God will place someone along the riverbank to draw them out.

Just like Pharaoh’s daughter did.

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Today’s Basket Moments — and the Unseen Grief

Today, the weight of being a mother isn’t only about nurturing life. It’s also about surviving loss, longing, and injustice.

There are mothers whose arms are still empty. They’ve tried every fertility treatment, whispered every prayer, fasted, and waited. Every month brings the ache of what hasn’t come. Every baby shower brings a silent tear. And every “when will you have children?” question pierces like a sword.

There are mothers whose children once filled their homes but now rest in graves.

• Some lost children through miscarriage.
• Others through illness or accidents.
• And many—heartbreakingly—through violence and injustice.

How do we not pause to mourn the young lives lost in the recent Kenyan demonstrations?

• The 12-year-old girl, shot while in her house. A home should be a sanctuary—not a grave.
• Ojwang’, whose life was extinguished inside a police cell.
• The humble mask seller, taken too soon.
• And the many unnamed sons and daughters, whose mothers are left with a basket of memories and no child to hold.

How does a mother release a child into a nation that has become a Nile of blood?

This is not just history repeating—it’s pain ongoing.

In moments like this, faith may feel like fragments. Nevertheless, even broken baskets float when God is near.

If you’ve lost a child—whether through death, abandonment, estrangement, or systemic injustice—know this:
God still sees you. God still weeps with you. God still draws close.

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Lessons for Today’s Mothers

Here’s what we can take from Jochebed’s story:

1. Your child is not invisible to God.

Just like God saw Moses in the basket, He sees your child—in the NICU, in school, in rehab, in rebellion. God sees.

2. Your pain has a purpose.

The pain of letting go may feel unbearable. However, on the other side of obedience is often divine intervention.

3. You don’t have to carry the weight alone.

You may be the only adult in the house. Even so, you are not the only power present. God is with you.

4. Faith builds baskets.

You don’t need to understand how the story ends to start weaving. Begin with what you have. Add pitch, prayer, and persistence.

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Comfort for the Weary Mother

Maybe today you’re building a basket:

• A prayer life to cover your children.
• A side hustle to keep food on the table.
• A blog or book to tell your story.
• A therapy journey to break generational trauma.

Whatever it is, don’t stop building. Keep praying. Keep releasing what you can’t control.

If you need reminders of what faith looks like when expressed in real life, don’t miss this beautiful post: Faith Expressing Itself Through Love

Need motivation in uncertain paths? This story is for you: Bumpy Road to Self-Employment

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Strengthen Your Spirit, Equip Your Life

Here are a few resources that could support you or a mother you know:

🌿 Faith and Devotionals

• Daily Encouragement for Mothers – Amazon
• One-Minute Inspirations for Women

🧺 Self-Care & Practical Tools

• Aromatherapy Diffuser – Create Peace at Home
• Weekly Planner for Busy Moms
• Insulated Water Bottle for On-the-Go Moms

📖 Books for Raising Faithful Children

• Praying the Scriptures for Your Children

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue sharing reflections like this.

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A Final Word to the Mother Building Her Basket

You may feel like Jochebed today—desperate, overwhelmed, afraid. Even so, you’re not alone.
And more importantly, your child is not alone.

There is a God who still parts seas. He still watches over baskets in rivers. He still turns death sentences into deliverance stories.

Take courage. Keep weaving. Keep praying.
And when it’s time to let go—let go in faith.

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Did this reflection touch your heart? Share it with a mother who needs encouragement today.
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Let’s remind one another: The weight of being a mother may be heavy—but God is strong enough to carry both you and the child.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” – 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV)

We live in an era where the conversation around gifts and skills is louder than ever—especially in a world where traditional employment seems to be vanishing. From the shift in our education system to the gig economy, we’re all being nudged to discover what’s in our hands.

But as I sat in a children’s Sunday school class recently, listening to a lesson on the gifts of the Spirit today—from wisdom and knowledge to healing and tongues—I realized that these spiritual tools are more relevant than ever. They are not just for church use. They’re for building a life, even in struggle.

And that brought Nehemiah to mind.

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Building With Gifts of the Spirit Today—The Nehemiah Example

Nehemiah was not a prophet, pastor, or miracle worker. He was a cupbearer with a burden. When he heard that Jerusalem’s walls lay in ruins, he didn’t wait for a job offer or perfect conditions. He responded with prayer, planning, and bold action.

“So we built the wall… for the people had a mind to work.” – Nehemiah 4:6 (NKJV)

But Nehemiah also faced resistance—from Sanballat, Tobiah, fear, and discouragement. And yet he kept building.

This is what using the gifts of the Spirit today looks like:
Working with one hand while holding your spiritual tools in the other.

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Gifts of the Spirit Today—Relevant in a Shifting Work and Faith Landscape

In our current times, especially in Kenya, people are reinventing themselves out of necessity. Formal jobs are shrinking, and even our education system has begun emphasizing skills, creativity, and talent over mere academic knowledge.

Yet, the question remains:
Where do faith and spiritual gifts fit in?

“To one is given… wisdom, to another knowledge… to another gifts of healing… working of miracles… prophecy…” – 1 Corinthians 12:8–10 (NKJV)

These are not outdated gifts. In fact, they equip us to:

• Think strategically (wisdom) in a crowded job market
• Speak life and hope (prophecy) where many feel stuck
• Bring healing—emotional or spiritual—to ourselves and others
• Communicate effectively in our work, ministries, and homes
• Intercede deeply when we’ve run out of words (tongues and interpretation)

We Need Spiritual Gifts as Much as Practical Skills

As we embrace hands-on skills like digital marketing, baking, coding, or tailoring, let’s not ignore the gifts of the Spirit today—which help us stand strong under pressure, make right decisions, and care for others beyond the surface.

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One Hand Builds, One Hand Defends: The Real Struggle

“Each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.” – Nehemiah 4:18 (NIV)

This image from Nehemiah’s wall speaks to life today. You’re trying to:

• Start a business with no capital
• Raise children while healing from trauma
• Serve God while battling discouragement
• Build faith while juggling survival

But you’re not building empty-handed.

You’ve got a gift—a spiritual weapon—alongside your skill.
Your sword might be faith, your trowel encouragement, your prayers tongues, and your work healing others with your story.

This is what walking in the gifts of the Spirit today looks like.

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Recognizing and Using Your Gift Today

You may not speak in tongues or prophesy from a pulpit, but perhaps:

• Your gift is quietly comforting the broken
• You have discernment that sees beyond words
• You carry faith that lifts others who are giving up

Your Gift Has Purpose—even in the Marketplace

Remember, these gifts are not limited to church walls. In a client meeting, a sales pitch, a medical ward, or a small food kiosk, the Spirit still empowers us.

Whether you’re a student, mama mboga, boda rider, blogger, or unemployed graduate—your spiritual gift is relevant.

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Affiliate Resource: Discover Your Gift and Calling

If you’ve been wondering what your purpose is and how your gifts align with your life’s mission, I highly recommend:

📘 “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren
Buy on Amazon (Affiliate link – I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you)

This book helped me see that no gift is too small, and that everything—including our pain—is connected to our purpose.

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Opposition Will Always Be There—But So Will God

Nehemiah faced external opposition, but he also battled fear and internal fatigue.

Just like today:

• You may have doubters or debt
• You may struggle with low confidence or grief
• You may feel like giving up on building a family, business, or blog

But you’re not alone.

“The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build.” – Nehemiah 2:20

Even when society changes, jobs vanish, or systems fail—the Spirit doesn’t.

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Internal & External Links

Read more on personal growth and purpose
👉 Grief and Duty in Customer Care
👉 Blending Technology and Human Care

Explore more on spiritual empowerment

• 1 Corinthians 12:7–11 – Bible Gateway
• Nehemiah 4 Full Chapter
• DesiringGod.org – Christian Living

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Final Thoughts: Don’t Dismiss Your Gift

You may feel small. Maybe you think your gift doesn’t “fit” in this digital age or changing economy. But Nehemiah’s walls were rebuilt stone by stone, not with applause but with grit and grace.

So build.
Even if it’s slow.
Even if your tools are borrowed.
Even if your other hand holds a sword.

The gifts of the Spirit today are not optional extras.
They are survival tools.
They are building blocks.
And they are yours.

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“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” – Galatians 5:6 (NIV)

Faith expressing itself through love is more than a beautiful verse—it’s a radical invitation to live beyond routine, reputation, and religion. In a world that praises performance and image, Galatians 5:6 cuts through the noise and reminds us: it’s not the rituals that count, but how our faith shows up in real, compassionate action.

What truly matters isn’t how religious we appear — it’s how deeply we love.

Whether we’re dressed for Sunday service or working behind a kiosk, what God sees isn’t the ritual — but the ripples of our faith in action.

This Sunday reflection blends Scripture, real life, literature, and compassion — to remind us what faith, expressed through love, really looks like.

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🌿 What Does “Faith Expressing Itself Through Love” Really Mean?

Paul opens our eyes in Galatians 5:6 by writing:

“Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.”

In modern language, this means: “The titles, routines, and religious appearances — they don’t count if they’re not backed by love.”

It’s not the performance of faith that moves God’s heart. It’s how our faith moves us toward people.

As I once saw on the Clinton Foundation website:

“It’s not about the size of what we build, but the lives changed because of it.”

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📖 Fiction That Reflects Real Faith: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

In the novel Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah, I met a character who modeled this kind of love.

Kate’s mother chooses to take in Tully — her daughter’s friend — a girl neglected and abandoned by her drug-addicted mother. When Tully makes mistakes like sneaking out to drink, Kate’s mom doesn’t reject her.

Instead, she does something revolutionary: she makes room.

That moment reminded me that love, real love, doesn’t run when people fail. It pulls closer.

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🛍️ Faith-Filled Reads That Stir Compassion

• 📘 Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
• 📗 Same Kind of Different as Me – A true story of friendship and restoration
• 📕 Live in Grace, Walk in Love by Bob Goff – Daily reflections to grow in grace-driven action

These books remind us: love is messy, but powerful.

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💛 A Banana Seller and a Broken Heart

There’s a fruit vendor I know who sells bananas by the roadside. One day, her son passed away. The very same day — while still grieving — she was back out there, arranging bananas on her mat under the sun.

I was stunned.

Was it poverty? Survival? Probably both. But her resilience taught me something sacred.

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord…” – Proverbs 19:17

Even in her pain, her love refused to stop. That’s faith. Not loud. But unshakeable.

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🧼 Faith That Wipes a Nose: Quiet Acts That Speak Volumes

I once watched a woman in Sunday School wipe the nose of a disabled girl. No one else stepped forward. But this woman — not the preacher, not the elder — gently knelt down, tissue in hand, and wiped her.

That was faith, too. No applause. No spotlight. Just simple love, in action.

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🙌 What Does Faith Expressing Itself Through Love Look Like Today?

🌱 1. See People Through the Eyes of Grace

When someone fails, don’t turn away. Be the one who stays, who forgives, who lifts.

🍞 2. Meet Real Needs

Carry a snack. Send fare. Sponsor a child’s schooling or donate to orphan care through organizations like Compassion International. Love gives quietly — but significantly.

🧹 3. Love in Low Places

Sweep the compound. Hold space for grief. Wipe a child’s nose. Help an overwhelmed mama carry her bags.

✨ 4. Serve Without a Hashtag

Don’t wait for recognition. Let your love echo silently into someone’s eternity.

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🔗 Related Reflections on Compassion

If you’re drawn to this kind of love-in-action, read these related posts:

• 👉 Handling Unstable Customers – A Lesson in Patient Compassion
• 👉 Faith in Desperate Times – A Story of Holding On

These stories remind us that compassion is often loudest when life is at its hardest.

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💬 Final Word: What Will Your Love Say?

As this new week begins, reflect on this:

• Who in your life is hard to love — but needs it most?
• What burden can you help carry quietly?
• Where can you serve without being seen?

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” – Galatians 5:6

That’s the kind of faith that changes generations — not just routines.

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📣 Share and Live This Reflection

If this touched your heart, share it.
📌 Pin it.
💬 Post it.
🤲 Or better yet — live it.

Let’s be people whose faith overflows into kindness, action, and healing.

When God closes a door, it can feel like rejection. But sometimes, that closed door is actually an invitation—to trust deeper and to rise stronger.

Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel is one of the clearest biblical examples of this. Read the full story in 1 Samuel 1 here.

📖 Need a deeper dive into stories like Hannah’s? This NIV Study Bible offers great insights and notes for your spiritual walk.. Labeled barren, mocked by her co-wife, and burdened with grief, she still chose to believe that her story wasn’t over. She poured out her heart before God—not with rehearsed words, but raw emotion.

✨ Want to start journaling your prayers like Hannah? This beautiful Christian prayer journal on Amazon helps you pour out your heart daily.

What moves me most is that after she prayed, her face changed. Her burden lifted. She walked away lighter, even before her situation changed. That’s what happens when you hand over the pain to the One who sees the full picture.

When God closes a door, it’s not the end. It’s the beginning of something deeper. Just like Hannah, you can trust that peace is possible before the promise is fulfilled.

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When God Closes a Door: Was Hannah the First or Second Wife?

One might ask: Was Hannah the first wife or the second? Scripture suggests she was the first wife. Her co-wife, Peninnah, had many sons and daughters. And in a society where motherhood was seen as a woman’s greatest honor, Hannah bore the painful stigma of barrenness. The whispers, the shame, the comparisons—these were heavy burdens she carried. Yet, she received a double portion of Elkanah’s love, and the Bible says he loved her deeply.

This reminds me that God is never unjust. When one door appears firmly shut, God often opens another that brings far more fulfillment. Hannah may have been barren, but she was beloved. And when the time was right, her womb was opened and her faith rewarded with a son—Samuel, a prophet who changed the destiny of Israel.

Peninnah, though fruitful, is remembered more for her mockery than her motherhood. She used her strength not for encouragement, but to inflict pain. Unfortunately, human beings are often adept at wounding others, especially when they feel superior in one area.

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When God Closes a Door: Why Does He Do It?

Before we dive into Hannah’s transformation, let’s pause and ask: Why does God close a door anyway?

Sometimes it’s to protect us from something we’re not yet ready for. Other times, it’s to prepare us for something greater. God may close a door to strengthen our dependence on Him, to shift our priorities, or to lead us into a deeper relationship with Him. Closed doors can feel cruel, but often they’re acts of divine mercy.

What truly moves me is what happened after Hannah prayed. The Bible records that after pouring out her soul to God at the altar, she got up and her burden lifted—even before her situation changed.

“Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” — 1 Samuel 1:18 (ESV)

She hadn’t conceived yet. She hadn’t seen a breakthrough. But peace entered her heart, and that made all the difference.

Sometimes, when you’ve carried pain for too long, you reach a breaking point. You get tired of the sadness. Tired of the silence. And like Hannah, you pour out your heart to God—because there’s simply no other way.

And then, like her, you rise lighter. Not because your reality has changed yet, but because your spirit has.

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📘 Looking for daily encouragement? Try this Women’s Devotional on God’s Promises to strengthen your faith as you wait.

Reflections for Today

• If you’re waiting on God, like Hannah, know that you are not forgotten.
• If someone in your life seems “ahead” in one area, remember God sees the whole story—and He is just.
• When people mock or belittle you, respond like Hannah: take your pain to prayer, not to war.
• And above all, remember: prayer doesn’t just change things—it changes you.

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Final Thought
Hannah’s story reminds us that when God closes a door, it is never without purpose. Sometimes, that closed door protects you. Other times, it prepares you. Either way, it leads you closer to the promise, if you walk through it with faith.

Let Hannah’s story encourage you: Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop trusting. Because even in silence, God is working.

🕯️ Hang a reminder of God’s timing with this 1 Samuel 1:27 Scripture Print — a perfect gift or encouragement piece for your home. in this story on faith in desperate times and God’s provision.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Today’s Sunday reflection takes us to the dramatic story of Pharaoh’s hardened heart, found in the book of Exodus. Moses is sent to Egypt with one message from God: “Let my people go.” Pharaoh refuses. Again and again, plagues fall, and each time, Pharaoh seems close to relenting — then his heart hardens again.

We often wonder: Why would God harden someone’s heart? But if you read the full story, you’ll see that Pharaoh hardened his heart first (Exodus 8:15, 8:32), and only after repeated stubbornness did God confirm it and use the situation to reveal His glory.

This story holds timeless truths about how we, too, can resist God’s voice without even realizing it.

What Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart Teaches Us

Pharaoh’s hardened heart wasn’t just a personal issue — it became a national crisis. His refusal to obey God brought suffering on his people. And it wasn’t because he didn’t hear God — it was because he ignored Him.

In contrast, look at the Pharaoh in Joseph’s time (Genesis 41). When God spoke through Joseph’s dream interpretation, this Pharaoh listened. He promoted Joseph and saved Egypt and surrounding nations from famine. His soft heart saved lives.

Two kings. Two choices. One obeyed and blessed others; the other resisted and destroyed his own people.

Signs of a Hardened Heart Today

We might not be kings or rulers, but we all face moments when God speaks — through His Word, through people, or through inner conviction — and we’re called to respond.

Pharaoh’s hardened heart began with pride. That same pride can show up in us as:

• Anger we don’t want to let go
• Bitterness we nurse in secret
• Unforgiveness we justify
• Resistance to change because we’re comfortable

Sometimes, we even celebrate these traits: “That’s just how I am,” or “I don’t let people cross me.” But while we think we’re protecting ourselves, we’re actually building walls between our hearts and God.

As life goes on, the heart can grow dull. The things that once convicted us no longer move us. The voice of God becomes faint. Not because He’s silent — but because our hearts are no longer listening.

The Israelites Wanted to Go Back

It wasn’t just Pharaoh. Even the Israelites, after God freed them, began to rebel.

When the wilderness tested them — when there was no meat, no variety, no certainty — they longed for Egypt, the very place they had begged God to deliver them from.
“We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost…” (Numbers 11:5)

They forgot the slavery. They remembered only the food. Their hearts hardened in hardship, and they preferred the comfort of captivity over the uncertainty of freedom.

That’s what a hardened heart does. It makes us forget God’s faithfulness and romanticize our past bondage. It leads us to grumble, resist, and rebel — even when we’re on the edge of breakthrough.

Hebrews 3:15 warns us:
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

When You Sense Resistance in Your Heart

If you’ve noticed that prayer feels dry, you’re avoiding difficult conversations, or you keep saying “later” when God says “now” — be careful. Those are signs of a slow-hardening heart.

Pharaoh’s hardened heart didn’t happen in a day. It was the result of daily disobedience. But we can respond differently.

God offers a better way:
“I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

His desire is not to condemn but to soften and restore. He wants hearts that are teachable, responsive, and full of trust.

A Simple Prayer to Soften the Heart

Here’s a prayer you can carry into the week:

Lord, show me where my heart has grown hard.
Soften me with Your presence.
Make me responsive to Your Word, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Help me choose humility over pride, and obedience over resistance. Amen.

Related Reflection:

➡️ How to Handle Aggressive Customers in Customer Service
Sometimes, God allows us to meet difficult people — not just to test our patience, but to soften the parts of us we didn’t know had hardened.

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Final Thought:
Pharaoh’s hardened heart shows us the danger of ignoring God and the power of choosing to obey. Don’t wait for ten plagues to hear God clearly. Listen while it’s still easy to say yes.

A soft heart isn’t weakness. It’s strength in God’s hands.

When life hits you hard—when you’re walking through a valley so dark and painful it makes you want to give up—what holds you together? This is where faith in desperate times becomes more than a church phrase. It becomes your lifeline.

Not the kind of faith we speak about when things are rosy. Not the faith we post about when bills are paid and the fridge is full. I’m talking about faith in desperate times—the kind you cling to when you have nothing left. The kind that forces you to trust God with your last drop of oil.

And there’s a woman in the Bible who teaches us exactly what that looks like.

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The Widow and the Oil: A Story of Faith in Desperate Times

In 2 Kings 4:1–7, we meet a widow whose husband had been one of the prophets. He dies suddenly, leaving her in debt. And now, her creditors are coming to take her two sons as repayment.

Imagine the heartbreak: You’ve lost your husband, you’re drowning in debt, and now you might lose your children too.

In her despair, she cries out to Elisha the prophet. But instead of handing her money or food, Elisha gives her a strange instruction:

“Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars…”
— 2 Kings 4:3–4 (NIV)

At first glance, this makes no sense. All she had was a small jar of oil. How could that possibly be enough? But what she had—however small—was enough for a miracle, if surrendered in faith.

This is the heart of faith in desperate times.

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Childlike Trust in the Middle of Crisis

Jesus said:

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
— Matthew 18:3

Children trust—even when they don’t fully understand. They believe their parent’s word even when the outcome is uncertain. This is the kind of faith God calls us to have during desperate moments.

When we are hurting, broke, or broken, we are also open, vulnerable, and willing to try anything. But without grounding in God’s truth, we can follow anything that sounds spiritual but isn’t biblical. That’s why our faith must be rooted in the Word.

Even in your pain, you can trust His plan.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
— Hebrews 11:1

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Your “Empty Jar” May Be the Beginning of a Miracle

The widow obeyed. She shut the door behind her and her sons and poured the oil. And a miracle unfolded. That small jar kept flowing until every borrowed container was full. When she told Elisha what had happened, he said:

“Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
— 2 Kings 4:7

This is not just a feel-good story. It is a blueprint for surviving faith in desperate times:

1. Turn to God
2. Obey divine instruction
3. Act in faith even when it doesn’t make sense
4. Trust God to multiply what’s in your hand

Whether your “empty jar” moment is unpaid school fees, a job loss, a broken relationship, or an empty kitchen cupboard, faith in desperate times says: “I trust You, Lord, even now.”

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Real-Life Desperation: What’s in Your Hands?

This reminds me of two people praying for food. One has options in the fridge and prays out of routine. The other hasn’t eaten in two days and is still thanking God. That’s the power of faith in desperate times.

We see similar courage in modern stories too. In this reflection on the cost of leadership, I explore how leadership often demands surrender and silent trust. And in faith and job loss in Kenya, I share how losing a job didn’t mean losing God’s purpose. Even when it looks like there’s nothing left, there’s still oil.

Sometimes your next breakthrough begins when you dare to take the leap even while afraid.

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Faith Isn’t Strength — It’s Surrender

We often think that having faith means being strong. But faith in desperate times is more about letting go. It’s trusting even when logic and experience say there’s no hope.

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.”
— Matthew 17:20

God doesn’t need us to have everything figured out. He just asks us to bring what we have, however small, and trust Him to do the rest.

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Recommended Bibles for Building Faith in Desperate Times

📖 If you’re walking through a hard season and want to strengthen your walk with God, here are excellent Bible options to consider:

• NIV Woman’s Study Bible – Perfect for women seeking faith-building devotionals and life application.
• KJV Giant Print Bible with Cross References – Classic scripture with easier reading.
• CSB She Reads Truth Bible – Beautifully designed and spiritually rich.
• ESV Study Bible – Excellent for theological depth and personal growth.
• NIV Journal the Word Bible – Great for those who love to take notes and reflect.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Lobby Reflections.

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A Final Word: Don’t Despise the Oil

Faith in desperate times reminds us that God doesn’t need plenty—He just needs surrender. He can multiply your oil, mend your heart, and restore your hope.

You may not see it now. The jars may still look empty. The bills may still be on the table. The pain may still feel sharp. But if you place your situation in God’s hands, He will pour out provision, healing, and purpose in ways you never imagined.

Don’t despise your “little oil.” It’s more than enough for God to work with.

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💬 What’s Your “Empty Jar” Moment?

Have you ever trusted God with your last “drop of oil”? Have you seen Him come through in your most desperate moment?

👉 Share your story or encouragement in the comments below. Let’s uplift one another as we walk by faith in desperate times, not by sight.

🔔 Need weekly encouragement? Subscribe to the Lobby Reflections blog newsletter and never miss a post that speaks to your faith journey.

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Further Reading & Resources

• How to Keep Faith After Losing a Job in Kenya
• Leadership, Sacrifice, and Trusting God’s Call
• Taking the Leap of Becoming Afraid
• Got Questions: What Is Faith?
• Bible Gateway – Read 2 Kings 4 Online

The God Who Calls and Confronts

This Sunday, my reflections rest on a passage that has always left me both inspired and unsettled: the calling of Moses in the book of Exodus.

It begins with a dramatic encounter. God appears to Moses in the burning bush, declaring His concern for the Israelites’ suffering in Egypt. It is not a quiet call but one wrapped in divine power and urgency.

And yet, what follows is less of an immediate “yes, Lord” and more of a negotiation:

• Who am I to go to Pharaoh?
• What if they don’t believe me?
• I am not eloquent… please, send someone else.

Doesn’t that sound familiar? How often do we respond to God’s nudges in the same way—with hesitations, excuses, and reasons why someone else would be better for the job?

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Moses’ Reluctance and God’s Assurance

God’s patience in this exchange is striking. He reveals His very name—I AM WHO I AM. He equips Moses with miraculous signs:

• A staff that turns into a snake.
• A hand that becomes leprous and heals again.
• Water poured on the ground that turns into blood.

Even after all this, Moses resists. In exasperation, God appoints Aaron, Moses’ brother, as his spokesman. Finally, Moses agrees to step forward in obedience.

Here’s the irony: obedience begins not in our confidence, but in God’s assurance. Sometimes, the journey of faith starts when we run out of excuses.

👉 Where is God calling you despite your hesitation? Is it in your career, relationships, or personal growth?

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An Unsettling Twist on the Road to Obedience

Just when Moses takes the first steps toward obedience, Scripture presents an unsettling twist:

“At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him.” (Exodus 4:24)

What? After convincing Moses to go, would God really seek to kill him?

It is Zipporah, Moses’ wife, who saves the moment. She circumcises their son, touches Moses’ feet with the foreskin, and God relents. She utters a raw and loaded statement: “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.”

How did she know what to do? How did she discern God’s requirement when even Moses seemed unprepared?

Biblical scholars offer different interpretations:

• Some argue God was angry because Moses delayed or resisted.
• Others believe the issue was that Moses’ son remained uncircumcised, breaking the covenant given to Abraham.

Either way, it’s clear: God was serious about covenant obedience. Moses couldn’t lead God’s people while neglecting God’s covenant in his own household.

👉 Lesson: Sometimes, before God uses us publicly, He first confronts us privately.

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When the God Who Calls Also Confronts You

Does your life feel like it’s in constant confrontation with God?

• Struggles that never seem to end.
• A desire to prosper financially, yet the breakthrough feels delayed.
• The goal to lose weight or stay disciplined, yet old habits keep winning.
• A longing for peace, but instead, stress and confusion dominate.

I confess—I’ve been there. Some days I want to box myself in the head for not “getting it right.” Other days I feel like Moses, reluctant, hesitant, or just plain weary.

But maybe that’s the very point. Sometimes God confronts us not to destroy us, but to align us. The confrontation is proof that He’s preparing us for something bigger.

As Psalm 145:3 reminds us:

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.”

The greatness of God cannot be boxed in. His dealings stretch us, unsettle us, and push us into deeper reverence.

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Lessons for Modern Life

So, what do we do when life feels like one long wrestling match with God?

1. Embrace the Mystery

Faith does not mean having all the answers. It means trusting even when the answers are hidden.

2. Honor the Covenant

Like Moses, we cannot ignore the basics. Our obedience in small, covenantal areas (prayer, integrity, faithfulness) matters deeply to God.

3. Accept Confrontation as Preparation

When God confronts us, it is often because He is shaping us for leadership, responsibility, or breakthrough.

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Equip Yourself for the Journey (Affiliate Links)

Sometimes, faith requires both spiritual tools and practical support. Here are resources to strengthen you when God feels both calling and confronting:

• 📖 The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren – discover God’s bigger plan for your life.
• ✍️ Daily Gratitude Journal – shift focus from struggle to thanksgiving.
• 🕯️ Bible Verse Wall Art – daily visual reminders of God’s promises.
• 💡 Financial Freedom Books – learn to manage money with wisdom.

Each small step—whether journaling, reading, or realigning your finances—is part of preparing for the greater assignment.

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Internal Reflections for Growth

If this reflection resonates with you, I encourage you to explore these related posts:

• Navigating a New Workplace: Tips for Confidence and Growth
• The Gift of Becoming
• Gifts of the Spirit Today: Building Through Opposition

Each of these reflections points back to one truth: God’s dealings with us are never wasted.

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Faith in the Mystery

In the end, the story of Moses reminds us that the God who calls us also confronts us. Calling without confrontation leads to arrogance. Confrontation without calling leads to despair. But together, they lead us into reverence and readiness.

👉 If this reflection blessed you, share it with someone facing their own “Moses moment.” Remind them that God’s confrontation is not rejection, but preparation.