Tony Yang's Blog
January 12, 2017
To Bail or Not to Bail
Renew your commitment to the LORD as you begin 2017. Ask Him to help you remain committed every day—even through the trials and storms that will inevitably come. This is more important than the commitment itself.
Why?
Because the trials and storms you try so hard to avoid may be the very way God makes Himself real to you. When He parts the Red Sea of your life to reveal the path that no one knew was there. No one except God, of course, because He's the one who placed that path there for you long before you needed it.
But you gotta stick around long enough if you want to see it. So, don't give up on God, no matter what.
If you bail out, you just might miss out.
Why?
Because the trials and storms you try so hard to avoid may be the very way God makes Himself real to you. When He parts the Red Sea of your life to reveal the path that no one knew was there. No one except God, of course, because He's the one who placed that path there for you long before you needed it.
But you gotta stick around long enough if you want to see it. So, don't give up on God, no matter what.
If you bail out, you just might miss out.
August 10, 2015
Meeting God Through Ebola
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Gillian Seton recently.
What compels someone to be a missionary in Africa after finishing medical school and becoming a surgeon?
She's not sure exactly when it happened but she says it was sometime in her childhood. She remembers telling her mom she was going to someday be a missionary doctor. Okay, I can buy that—childhood dream becomes reality. Not something you hear from most kids but it's the kind of story you can certainly respect and admire—from a distance, anyway.
Not for me but, hey, good for her.
But what compels someone to go further? I mean, way further. To be so committed that you're not willing to leave when things get tough. When the future is uncertain. When you're scared.
WHEN YOUR OWN LIFE IS ON THE LINE.
Do you stay or do you go?
“I had the option to hop on a plane and go home,” Dr. Seton said.
No one would have blamed her. After all, nothing’s worth dying for, is it? It’s a question few of us have to answer. Maybe I think about that sort of thing now and then but it’s never in the context of reality. So, I have the luxury of not answering it. But if I’m not forced to answer it, I don’t truly understand how serious it is to begin with.
It’s like when I say, “I’m starving.” I say it pretty often, without thinking about what it really means. Then I open my fridge and there’s food—every single time. Or worse case, I hop in my car and easily find a drive-thru—even at 3 a.m. You’re not truly starving until you don’t know where your next meal is coming from—or when.
But for Dr. Seton, her situation was real—too real. She didn’t have the option to make it go away—like turning off the TV or flipping to another channel when you don’t like what you see. There was no doubt she was in danger. And the threat was getting bigger every day.
That threat: Ebola.
The virus swept through West Africa last year and at its peak killed more than 10,000 people. Dr. Seton found herself right in the middle of the crisis. I can’t imagine this was part of her childhood dream.
She was serving as a general surgeon at Cooper Adventist Hospital in Liberia. Cooper was one of only three hospitals open and operational in that area at the time. All other nearby hospitals were closed to the public.
As a result, they started coming. And coming.
Every major road was shut down. But they found a way—on unidentified trails or through the jungle. Yet the hospital wasn’t prepared. It didn’t have sufficient staff. And the skeleton crew that was there didn’t have the proper equipment. Forget about the air-tight “space suits” you often see on the news. Dr. Seton and her team didn’t even have the basics, like gloves, masks and gowns.
“It was like facing a firing squad and all you had was a small metal plate as your only protection,” she said, as she formed a small circle by connecting her thumbs and index fingers over her chest. In other words, there were multiple ways they could have been exposed to the virus but virtually no protection.
That was the risk. And she knew it. Which brought her back to the original question.
“Do I go home where it’s safe or do I stay and risk my life?”
As a U.S. citizen she could have easily hopped on that plane. “But those living there didn't have that option,” she said. While that rationale seems way too simple to make a life-or-death decision, it was enough for Dr. Seton.
But perhaps the reason she was able to make that sort of decision is because there was something inside of her that’s hard to define. You can attempt to explain it to someone but probably can’t. People listening to you can try to understand it but probably won’t. They might nod their heads in theoretical or intellectual agreement but they’ll never know what you mean in a real, raw sort of way. Unless they have it inside of them, too. Then, all it takes is a simple explanation.
“God was with us every step of the way,” she said.
Now that the dust has settled and all seems to be getting better, she’s able to look back and realize it was absolutely the right decision.
“I have no doubt God's hand kept the disease away from us,” Dr. Seton said. “God clearly protected us. I fail on a daily basis. My efforts are not enough. But God put me here for a purpose.”
You either understand that or you don’t. It’s either simple or it makes no sense. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the kind of courage and faith that Dr. Seton had when she made her bold decision. But do I at least understand it?
I mean, really understand?
Not just as a cheerleader on the sidelines applauding her heroic efforts, but as a fellow Christian who says, “Yeah, I get it. I get her.” We’re not all called to the mission fields. God uses each of us in different ways. But there should be one thing in common. No matter who you are, no matter what you’re doing—big, small…something in between—or where you’re doing it.
When I met Dr. Seton, she was on a stage in front a large audience. I don’t know what the crowd learned as she shared her story while she was here for a short break before heading back to Liberia. I’m sure many were inspired, encouraged and blessed.
I certainly was. But more than that she made me reflect on my own life a bit, helping me to conclude that maybe I do have something in common with her. Am I seeking God every day? Am I humbly submitting to His will over my own? Even when an Ebola—whatever that may be for me—is right in my face? In those moments, do I have the courage to be obedient to what God is calling me to do?
You don’t have to go to Africa to have that sort of encounter with God.
Tony Yang
Are You Sure You Want to Love God?
What compels someone to be a missionary in Africa after finishing medical school and becoming a surgeon?
She's not sure exactly when it happened but she says it was sometime in her childhood. She remembers telling her mom she was going to someday be a missionary doctor. Okay, I can buy that—childhood dream becomes reality. Not something you hear from most kids but it's the kind of story you can certainly respect and admire—from a distance, anyway.
Not for me but, hey, good for her.
But what compels someone to go further? I mean, way further. To be so committed that you're not willing to leave when things get tough. When the future is uncertain. When you're scared.
WHEN YOUR OWN LIFE IS ON THE LINE.
Do you stay or do you go?
“I had the option to hop on a plane and go home,” Dr. Seton said.
No one would have blamed her. After all, nothing’s worth dying for, is it? It’s a question few of us have to answer. Maybe I think about that sort of thing now and then but it’s never in the context of reality. So, I have the luxury of not answering it. But if I’m not forced to answer it, I don’t truly understand how serious it is to begin with.
It’s like when I say, “I’m starving.” I say it pretty often, without thinking about what it really means. Then I open my fridge and there’s food—every single time. Or worse case, I hop in my car and easily find a drive-thru—even at 3 a.m. You’re not truly starving until you don’t know where your next meal is coming from—or when.
But for Dr. Seton, her situation was real—too real. She didn’t have the option to make it go away—like turning off the TV or flipping to another channel when you don’t like what you see. There was no doubt she was in danger. And the threat was getting bigger every day.
That threat: Ebola.
The virus swept through West Africa last year and at its peak killed more than 10,000 people. Dr. Seton found herself right in the middle of the crisis. I can’t imagine this was part of her childhood dream.
She was serving as a general surgeon at Cooper Adventist Hospital in Liberia. Cooper was one of only three hospitals open and operational in that area at the time. All other nearby hospitals were closed to the public.
As a result, they started coming. And coming.
Every major road was shut down. But they found a way—on unidentified trails or through the jungle. Yet the hospital wasn’t prepared. It didn’t have sufficient staff. And the skeleton crew that was there didn’t have the proper equipment. Forget about the air-tight “space suits” you often see on the news. Dr. Seton and her team didn’t even have the basics, like gloves, masks and gowns.
“It was like facing a firing squad and all you had was a small metal plate as your only protection,” she said, as she formed a small circle by connecting her thumbs and index fingers over her chest. In other words, there were multiple ways they could have been exposed to the virus but virtually no protection.
That was the risk. And she knew it. Which brought her back to the original question.
“Do I go home where it’s safe or do I stay and risk my life?”
As a U.S. citizen she could have easily hopped on that plane. “But those living there didn't have that option,” she said. While that rationale seems way too simple to make a life-or-death decision, it was enough for Dr. Seton.
But perhaps the reason she was able to make that sort of decision is because there was something inside of her that’s hard to define. You can attempt to explain it to someone but probably can’t. People listening to you can try to understand it but probably won’t. They might nod their heads in theoretical or intellectual agreement but they’ll never know what you mean in a real, raw sort of way. Unless they have it inside of them, too. Then, all it takes is a simple explanation.
“God was with us every step of the way,” she said.
Now that the dust has settled and all seems to be getting better, she’s able to look back and realize it was absolutely the right decision.
“I have no doubt God's hand kept the disease away from us,” Dr. Seton said. “God clearly protected us. I fail on a daily basis. My efforts are not enough. But God put me here for a purpose.”
You either understand that or you don’t. It’s either simple or it makes no sense. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the kind of courage and faith that Dr. Seton had when she made her bold decision. But do I at least understand it?
I mean, really understand?
Not just as a cheerleader on the sidelines applauding her heroic efforts, but as a fellow Christian who says, “Yeah, I get it. I get her.” We’re not all called to the mission fields. God uses each of us in different ways. But there should be one thing in common. No matter who you are, no matter what you’re doing—big, small…something in between—or where you’re doing it.
When I met Dr. Seton, she was on a stage in front a large audience. I don’t know what the crowd learned as she shared her story while she was here for a short break before heading back to Liberia. I’m sure many were inspired, encouraged and blessed.
I certainly was. But more than that she made me reflect on my own life a bit, helping me to conclude that maybe I do have something in common with her. Am I seeking God every day? Am I humbly submitting to His will over my own? Even when an Ebola—whatever that may be for me—is right in my face? In those moments, do I have the courage to be obedient to what God is calling me to do?
You don’t have to go to Africa to have that sort of encounter with God.
Tony Yang
Are You Sure You Want to Love God?
September 4, 2014
Beautiful Noise
Do you like noise?
Of course not.
Are you sure?
Let’s start with noise we don’t like. That’s pretty easy.
Garbage disposal = 80 decibels = annoying.
Jackhammer = 100 decibels = damage to ears.
Jet taking-off = 150 decibels = ruptured eardrums.
But is there noise we actually like—so much so that the louder, the better?
Ever been to a football game? The loudest roar at a sports stadium was recorded by fans of the Seattle Seahawks at 137.6 decibels, according to Guinness World Records.
Now that’s loud.
If you’ve ever been part of a crowd at a big game, you’ve experienced the adrenaline rush. The music, the stomping of the feet, the cheering, the clapping—all coming together to form…
Noise. Yes, noise.
But how sweet is that noise? You might even call it beautiful noise. Maybe that explains why God calls us to make some noise now and then.
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise” (Psalm 98:4).
Hmm. We see the word “noise” twice in that verse. As if God’s saying, “Just in case you didn’t think I really meant ‘noise,’ let me throw in a colon and repeat it. I’ll even add an adjective—loud noise—just so there’s no confusion.”
But unlike a garbage disposal, jackhammer or jet—which, at best, are annoying and, in the worse case scenario, can even cause bodily injury—is God asking for a good kind of noise? Maybe even desirable noise?
Moses is known for a lot of things—a humble servant, a chosen prophet, a great leader. But a singer? A man who described himself as “slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” (Exodus 4:10) probably wasn’t much of a crooner.
Yet “Moses and the people of Israel sang…to the Lord” (Exodus 15:1) after God got them safely to the other side of the Red Sea. Even if Moses could carry a decent tune, you’re talking about a million people—more like 3 million when you count women and children. Just think about trying to coordinate a choir of that size?
Okay, maybe not everyone participated. But even if it was just 1 percent, you’re still looking at 30 thousand people. There’s no way everyone was singing in the same key. Staying together must have been nearly impossible. And throw in those who were singing louder than the rest of the group but everybody else wished they didn't—you know, the ones who have more heart than ability—and, well, you can just imagine.
Noise.
Or consider the reaction when the Ark of God was brought back to Jerusalem.
“David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals” (2 Samuel 6:5).
Does that sound like a peaceful, reverent scene? Notice the wording: all their might and all kinds of musical instruments. No carefully choreographed moves here. No rehearsals. This was a spontaneous reaction of pure joy.
“David danced before the Lord with all his might” and there was “much shouting and blowing of trumpets” (2 Samuel 6:14, 15).
Yeah…more noise.
Is that the kind of noise God wants from us—a passionate response that just can’t be held back, no matter how hard we try? The reaction is so spontaneous there’s no time to be calculated. No stopping to think about it. No taking the time to plan and carefully orchestrate every note, every move.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting we should do away with the beautiful services that take place at thousands of churches every week. But does God want something more now and then?
Yes.
“Make a loud noise,” He commands.
So, where’s that loud noise in my life—the kind that Moses and David made? What did they have that I don’t have? What did they know that I don’t know? What did they experience that I’m not experiencing?
I’m going to suggest that it comes down to one critical factor: my heart.
God’s not interested in the perfection of my pitch or the smooth movements of my dance. While I’m sure He appreciates it when we use our talents to worship Him in a more polished way, what He really wants is my heart—all of it.
When I love Him with all my heart—completely surrendering my life to Him—He can finally start working in my life. Just like He did with Moses and David. Out of their love for God, they had a natural desire to be faithful to Him and to obey Him. They didn’t just stop at knowing what He wanted them to do but they actually did it. They submitted to His will over their own will. They weren’t perfect. In fact, both of them made some big mistakes. But ultimately, at the end of the day, they gave their hearts to God.
That’s how God was able to use them in mighty ways. And when that happens, our response will be so spontaneous and genuine—so raw—that the only way to describe it is…yep, you guessed it: noise.
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All Rights Reserved.
Of course not.
Are you sure?
Let’s start with noise we don’t like. That’s pretty easy.
Garbage disposal = 80 decibels = annoying.
Jackhammer = 100 decibels = damage to ears.
Jet taking-off = 150 decibels = ruptured eardrums.
But is there noise we actually like—so much so that the louder, the better?
Ever been to a football game? The loudest roar at a sports stadium was recorded by fans of the Seattle Seahawks at 137.6 decibels, according to Guinness World Records.
Now that’s loud.
If you’ve ever been part of a crowd at a big game, you’ve experienced the adrenaline rush. The music, the stomping of the feet, the cheering, the clapping—all coming together to form…
Noise. Yes, noise.
But how sweet is that noise? You might even call it beautiful noise. Maybe that explains why God calls us to make some noise now and then.
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise” (Psalm 98:4).
Hmm. We see the word “noise” twice in that verse. As if God’s saying, “Just in case you didn’t think I really meant ‘noise,’ let me throw in a colon and repeat it. I’ll even add an adjective—loud noise—just so there’s no confusion.”
But unlike a garbage disposal, jackhammer or jet—which, at best, are annoying and, in the worse case scenario, can even cause bodily injury—is God asking for a good kind of noise? Maybe even desirable noise?
Moses is known for a lot of things—a humble servant, a chosen prophet, a great leader. But a singer? A man who described himself as “slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” (Exodus 4:10) probably wasn’t much of a crooner.
Yet “Moses and the people of Israel sang…to the Lord” (Exodus 15:1) after God got them safely to the other side of the Red Sea. Even if Moses could carry a decent tune, you’re talking about a million people—more like 3 million when you count women and children. Just think about trying to coordinate a choir of that size?
Okay, maybe not everyone participated. But even if it was just 1 percent, you’re still looking at 30 thousand people. There’s no way everyone was singing in the same key. Staying together must have been nearly impossible. And throw in those who were singing louder than the rest of the group but everybody else wished they didn't—you know, the ones who have more heart than ability—and, well, you can just imagine.
Noise.
Or consider the reaction when the Ark of God was brought back to Jerusalem.
“David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals” (2 Samuel 6:5).
Does that sound like a peaceful, reverent scene? Notice the wording: all their might and all kinds of musical instruments. No carefully choreographed moves here. No rehearsals. This was a spontaneous reaction of pure joy.
“David danced before the Lord with all his might” and there was “much shouting and blowing of trumpets” (2 Samuel 6:14, 15).
Yeah…more noise.
Is that the kind of noise God wants from us—a passionate response that just can’t be held back, no matter how hard we try? The reaction is so spontaneous there’s no time to be calculated. No stopping to think about it. No taking the time to plan and carefully orchestrate every note, every move.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting we should do away with the beautiful services that take place at thousands of churches every week. But does God want something more now and then?
Yes.
“Make a loud noise,” He commands.
So, where’s that loud noise in my life—the kind that Moses and David made? What did they have that I don’t have? What did they know that I don’t know? What did they experience that I’m not experiencing?
I’m going to suggest that it comes down to one critical factor: my heart.
God’s not interested in the perfection of my pitch or the smooth movements of my dance. While I’m sure He appreciates it when we use our talents to worship Him in a more polished way, what He really wants is my heart—all of it.
When I love Him with all my heart—completely surrendering my life to Him—He can finally start working in my life. Just like He did with Moses and David. Out of their love for God, they had a natural desire to be faithful to Him and to obey Him. They didn’t just stop at knowing what He wanted them to do but they actually did it. They submitted to His will over their own will. They weren’t perfect. In fact, both of them made some big mistakes. But ultimately, at the end of the day, they gave their hearts to God.
That’s how God was able to use them in mighty ways. And when that happens, our response will be so spontaneous and genuine—so raw—that the only way to describe it is…yep, you guessed it: noise.
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All Rights Reserved.
August 22, 2014
Hannah’s Deal With God
Promises. They’re easy to make, but sometimes hard to keep.
When you really want something, you’ll sometimes say just about anything to get it. But once you get it, how hard is it to actually do what you said you were going to do?
Depends on the promise, right?
Husband to wife: “The trash it out.” Easy.
Friend to friend: “I’m here. Let’s talk.” Easy.
Parent to child: “Here’s your birthday present.” Really easy.
And then there was Hannah’s promise.
“O Lord Almighty, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime” (1 Samuel 1:11).
Not so easy.
Why would Hannah make such a big promise? If you read the story carefully, you can sort of understand. Hannah’s biological clock wasn’t just ticking—the alarm was beeping loudly and she was getting tired of hitting the snooze button. To make matters worse, Peninnah—her husband’s other wife—had children. And Peninnah looked for every excuse to rub it in.
“Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle” (1 Samuel 1:7). But this wasn’t just fun and games. The verse goes on to say, “Hannah would finally be reduced to tears and would not even eat.”
Clearly, there wasn’t a whole lot of love between these two women. In fact, it appears there was some serious competition—to win the affections of their husband, to be blessed by God, to feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose in life.
Classic playground battle: Peninnah with her thumb on her nose, wiggling her fingers while singing loudly and proudly, “nah-nah-nah-nah-naaaah-nah,” leaving Hannah speechless—unable to come up with even a single word, let alone any sort of worthy comeback.
And so like a little girl who runs and hides from all the other children, Hannah found herself all alone “in deep anguish, crying bitterly” (1 Samuel 1:10).
She looked for a way—any way—to mend her broken heart. Feeling all alone, crushed and defeated, she concluded that there was only one answer.
She had to have a son.
It was the only way to fill the emptiness she had been feeling for so long. And it would certainly end—once and for all—Peninnah’s teasing.
So she prayed. But this was no ordinary prayer. When Eli the priest accused her of being drunk because he saw her lips move but didn’t hear any sound, Hannah responded, “I am very sad, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord…I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow” (1 Samuel 1:15, 16).
No casual prayer here. Unlike most people who simply ask—if we’re really desperate we might plead, beg, maybe even break down and cry—Hannah wasn’t going to limit her prayer to just a request. No, she wanted a son so badly, she made a deal with God.
Give me a son and I’ll give him back to you—not just for a little while but “his entire lifetime.”
Not sure how God feels about that approach. After all, are we in a position to bargain with the Creator of the universe? Sometimes—out of desperation—we try. In this case, God took her up on it.
“The Lord remembered her request, and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel” (1 Samuel 1:19).
Yes! Finally.
I can imagine her joy. When she gave the good news to her husband. And, of course, there must have been a special message delivered to Penninah. When she felt her tummy grow. The first time she felt the baby move inside of her. Every moment, every phase, every sign of progress—all leading to the big day. The first time she saw his little face. The first time she heard his strong but desperate cry. His first smile, laugh, word, step—the mother-son bond could not be broken.
But it would have to be—if she kept her promise to God!
As I studied this story, I started to wonder what kinds of promises I’ve made to God? What have I asked God for in the past and what did I promise in return if He answered my prayer? No, not me. I don’t make deals with God. Those were my initial thoughts. But then I started to really think about it.
What were my baptismal vows? I couldn’t even remember them—not one. I searched for my baptismal certificate but it was nowhere to be found. What about the last time I responded to an altar call? What commitment did I whisper to God as I knelt down in prayer at the front of the church?
It’s one thing to verbally make a promise when you really want something. But when it comes time to act on that promise? Well, I find plenty of excuses.
I honestly forgot all about it, God.
Just kidding, God. I didn’t really mean it.
Can we re-visit this? I’m having second thoughts.
I clearly remember the moment I became a father. Even the second and third time were amazing. It was love-at-first-sight with each child. There was no way I would part with my children—not voluntarily, anyway. Promise or no promise. No way, no how.
Although I believe Hannah was sincere when she made her promise to God, I can’t imagine it would’ve been any easier for her. In fact, it had to have been a real struggle to actually follow through after several years of bonding with her son.
I remember the first day of pre-school for my kids. The tears, the protests, the begging and pleading—and the kids had a tough time, too. At least I would see them a few hours later. Imagine the farewell that must have taken place at the Tabernacle in Shiloh that day.
Yet they were faithful—Hannah kept her promise and Samuel obeyed.
“I asked the Lord to give me this child, and he has given me my request. Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life” (1 Samuel 1:27, 28).
And when we are faithful to God, He will be faithful to us.
God gave Hannah more children—“The barren woman now has seven children” (1 Samuel 2:5). At a young age, Samuel was able to hear directly from God. How cool is that? God used Samuel in mighty ways—to select and anoint both King Saul and King David. If Hannah had changed her mind and refused to keep her promise, would Samuel have experienced all that he did? Would God have been able to still use Samuel?
The good news is that God can still find a way to use me even when I flake on my promises. That’s what makes His grace so amazing. But consider this: it might require a detour. Like a car navigation system that doesn’t get annoyed, lose its temper or force me to comply, God remains by my side, patiently trying to redirect me. Question is how long will I take before I realize His way is better than my way. And what amazing things—all part of His specific plan for my life—am I missing out on in the meantime?
What promises have you made to God? Be faithful to Him and He will be faithful to you.
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All Rights Reserved.
When you really want something, you’ll sometimes say just about anything to get it. But once you get it, how hard is it to actually do what you said you were going to do?
Depends on the promise, right?
Husband to wife: “The trash it out.” Easy.
Friend to friend: “I’m here. Let’s talk.” Easy.
Parent to child: “Here’s your birthday present.” Really easy.
And then there was Hannah’s promise.
“O Lord Almighty, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime” (1 Samuel 1:11).
Not so easy.
Why would Hannah make such a big promise? If you read the story carefully, you can sort of understand. Hannah’s biological clock wasn’t just ticking—the alarm was beeping loudly and she was getting tired of hitting the snooze button. To make matters worse, Peninnah—her husband’s other wife—had children. And Peninnah looked for every excuse to rub it in.
“Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle” (1 Samuel 1:7). But this wasn’t just fun and games. The verse goes on to say, “Hannah would finally be reduced to tears and would not even eat.”
Clearly, there wasn’t a whole lot of love between these two women. In fact, it appears there was some serious competition—to win the affections of their husband, to be blessed by God, to feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose in life.
Classic playground battle: Peninnah with her thumb on her nose, wiggling her fingers while singing loudly and proudly, “nah-nah-nah-nah-naaaah-nah,” leaving Hannah speechless—unable to come up with even a single word, let alone any sort of worthy comeback.
And so like a little girl who runs and hides from all the other children, Hannah found herself all alone “in deep anguish, crying bitterly” (1 Samuel 1:10).
She looked for a way—any way—to mend her broken heart. Feeling all alone, crushed and defeated, she concluded that there was only one answer.
She had to have a son.
It was the only way to fill the emptiness she had been feeling for so long. And it would certainly end—once and for all—Peninnah’s teasing.
So she prayed. But this was no ordinary prayer. When Eli the priest accused her of being drunk because he saw her lips move but didn’t hear any sound, Hannah responded, “I am very sad, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord…I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow” (1 Samuel 1:15, 16).
No casual prayer here. Unlike most people who simply ask—if we’re really desperate we might plead, beg, maybe even break down and cry—Hannah wasn’t going to limit her prayer to just a request. No, she wanted a son so badly, she made a deal with God.
Give me a son and I’ll give him back to you—not just for a little while but “his entire lifetime.”
Not sure how God feels about that approach. After all, are we in a position to bargain with the Creator of the universe? Sometimes—out of desperation—we try. In this case, God took her up on it.
“The Lord remembered her request, and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel” (1 Samuel 1:19).
Yes! Finally.
I can imagine her joy. When she gave the good news to her husband. And, of course, there must have been a special message delivered to Penninah. When she felt her tummy grow. The first time she felt the baby move inside of her. Every moment, every phase, every sign of progress—all leading to the big day. The first time she saw his little face. The first time she heard his strong but desperate cry. His first smile, laugh, word, step—the mother-son bond could not be broken.
But it would have to be—if she kept her promise to God!
As I studied this story, I started to wonder what kinds of promises I’ve made to God? What have I asked God for in the past and what did I promise in return if He answered my prayer? No, not me. I don’t make deals with God. Those were my initial thoughts. But then I started to really think about it.
What were my baptismal vows? I couldn’t even remember them—not one. I searched for my baptismal certificate but it was nowhere to be found. What about the last time I responded to an altar call? What commitment did I whisper to God as I knelt down in prayer at the front of the church?
It’s one thing to verbally make a promise when you really want something. But when it comes time to act on that promise? Well, I find plenty of excuses.
I honestly forgot all about it, God.
Just kidding, God. I didn’t really mean it.
Can we re-visit this? I’m having second thoughts.
I clearly remember the moment I became a father. Even the second and third time were amazing. It was love-at-first-sight with each child. There was no way I would part with my children—not voluntarily, anyway. Promise or no promise. No way, no how.
Although I believe Hannah was sincere when she made her promise to God, I can’t imagine it would’ve been any easier for her. In fact, it had to have been a real struggle to actually follow through after several years of bonding with her son.
I remember the first day of pre-school for my kids. The tears, the protests, the begging and pleading—and the kids had a tough time, too. At least I would see them a few hours later. Imagine the farewell that must have taken place at the Tabernacle in Shiloh that day.
Yet they were faithful—Hannah kept her promise and Samuel obeyed.
“I asked the Lord to give me this child, and he has given me my request. Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life” (1 Samuel 1:27, 28).
And when we are faithful to God, He will be faithful to us.
God gave Hannah more children—“The barren woman now has seven children” (1 Samuel 2:5). At a young age, Samuel was able to hear directly from God. How cool is that? God used Samuel in mighty ways—to select and anoint both King Saul and King David. If Hannah had changed her mind and refused to keep her promise, would Samuel have experienced all that he did? Would God have been able to still use Samuel?
The good news is that God can still find a way to use me even when I flake on my promises. That’s what makes His grace so amazing. But consider this: it might require a detour. Like a car navigation system that doesn’t get annoyed, lose its temper or force me to comply, God remains by my side, patiently trying to redirect me. Question is how long will I take before I realize His way is better than my way. And what amazing things—all part of His specific plan for my life—am I missing out on in the meantime?
What promises have you made to God? Be faithful to Him and He will be faithful to you.
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All Rights Reserved.
July 25, 2014
Nothing Replaces Time
One day, I got an interesting call from my wife about our second daughter, Kate. Before I continue, I should share with you that Kate is the most emotional of our three girls. When she’s happy, I find her smile and laugh irresistible. Her joy is downright contagious. It’s hard not to be happy when she’s happy. And the same is true when she’s sad. You can’t help but get pulled in. You don’t just hear her cry—you feel it!
So I wasn’t too surprised when I heard Kate crying in the background when my wife called me that day. “What is it this time?” I asked.
My wife normally doesn’t call me every time Kate cries. (If she did, it would practically be a daily call.) But this one was a little different. They were driving home after my wife picked Kate up from school. It seemed like any other day. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Kate started crying. More like sobbing. Thinking something must have happened, my wife, like any good mom, immediately started looking for the source. But Kate didn’t hurt herself. She didn’t get into a fight with one of her sisters. She wasn’t upset because she didn’t get something she wanted. After my wife quickly dismissed these possible explanations, she simply asked, “Kate, why are you crying?”
“I miss Daddy,” Kate sobbed.
I try my best to avoid overnight business trips. I’m fortunate that my job doesn’t require it very often. But every once in a while, I’ve got to do it. In this case, I was at a conference. It was only a two-day trip but I guess it was long enough to trigger a reaction from Kate. My wife was curious and explored further.
“Why do you love Daddy so much?” my wife asked.
“Because he hugs and kisses me,” she said. And then she added something that surprised me.
“And because he spends time with me.”
Of course, as a parent, I know how important it is that we spend time with our children. But it’s not what I expected to hear from a 5-year-old. I thought she might mention something about the things I buy her or the places I take her.
Her tears were simply an expression of her love for me. But her love is based on much more than an emotional outburst. There’s a lot more to it. There’s a strong bond—a deep relationship that has grown over time. No need for a sophisticated psycho-analysis here. Even a 5-year-old had the answer.
“Because he spends time with me.”
I didn’t think I spent enough time with my kids. But whatever time it was, it’s what she remembered. No matter what else I do to try to love her, there’s nothing that can replace our time together.
No substitute. No shortcut. No secrets.
Made me wonder if I miss my Heavenly Father the same way. For most of my life, if I were to be completely honest, I can’t say I did. Why not? What was missing? Could it be I was overthinking it, searching for that deep spiritual experience, when it was really as simple as…time?
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All rights reserved.
So I wasn’t too surprised when I heard Kate crying in the background when my wife called me that day. “What is it this time?” I asked.
My wife normally doesn’t call me every time Kate cries. (If she did, it would practically be a daily call.) But this one was a little different. They were driving home after my wife picked Kate up from school. It seemed like any other day. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Kate started crying. More like sobbing. Thinking something must have happened, my wife, like any good mom, immediately started looking for the source. But Kate didn’t hurt herself. She didn’t get into a fight with one of her sisters. She wasn’t upset because she didn’t get something she wanted. After my wife quickly dismissed these possible explanations, she simply asked, “Kate, why are you crying?”
“I miss Daddy,” Kate sobbed.
I try my best to avoid overnight business trips. I’m fortunate that my job doesn’t require it very often. But every once in a while, I’ve got to do it. In this case, I was at a conference. It was only a two-day trip but I guess it was long enough to trigger a reaction from Kate. My wife was curious and explored further.
“Why do you love Daddy so much?” my wife asked.
“Because he hugs and kisses me,” she said. And then she added something that surprised me.
“And because he spends time with me.”
Of course, as a parent, I know how important it is that we spend time with our children. But it’s not what I expected to hear from a 5-year-old. I thought she might mention something about the things I buy her or the places I take her.
Her tears were simply an expression of her love for me. But her love is based on much more than an emotional outburst. There’s a lot more to it. There’s a strong bond—a deep relationship that has grown over time. No need for a sophisticated psycho-analysis here. Even a 5-year-old had the answer.
“Because he spends time with me.”
I didn’t think I spent enough time with my kids. But whatever time it was, it’s what she remembered. No matter what else I do to try to love her, there’s nothing that can replace our time together.
No substitute. No shortcut. No secrets.
Made me wonder if I miss my Heavenly Father the same way. For most of my life, if I were to be completely honest, I can’t say I did. Why not? What was missing? Could it be I was overthinking it, searching for that deep spiritual experience, when it was really as simple as…time?
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All rights reserved.
July 15, 2014
Planted Seeds
Ever fall in love with a new song as soon as you hear it…only to find out it’s not new at all? And you say, “How come I never heard this before?” when in reality you have…many times.
I heard such a song on the radio the other night while driving in my car. Immediately I said, “Wow, great song—beautiful guitar accompaniment, powerful message behind the lyrics. Who sings this? I want it.” I searched online and realized it’s Chris Tomlin’s Mighty is the Power of the Cross from his “Arriving” album. Wait, I have that somewhere.
I dusted off the storage container of old CDs. Sure enough, there it was. It was a gift I received about eight years ago. I remember how I used to listen to it all the time—over and over again. But for some reason, I just don’t recall being into this particular song. But now, as I’m re-discovering it, I can’t stop listening to it. So, why is it connecting with me in such a strong way this time…years later?
The Word of God works in the same way. Sometimes—many times—it seems boring, irrelevant. I don’t get it. But if we study the Bible continually, meditate on it day and night, and obey all that is written in it (Joshua 1:8, paraphrased), God will reveal himself to us—sometimes immediately, but more often than not it will come later…when we least expect it.
The seeds He plants in our hearts need time to sprout and grow. And when that happens, like the song, we’ll fall in love with it and be greatly blessed by it. But that won’t happen if we don’t consistently spend time in God’s Word and give Him the chance to plant the seeds in our hearts in the first place.
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All rights reserved.
I heard such a song on the radio the other night while driving in my car. Immediately I said, “Wow, great song—beautiful guitar accompaniment, powerful message behind the lyrics. Who sings this? I want it.” I searched online and realized it’s Chris Tomlin’s Mighty is the Power of the Cross from his “Arriving” album. Wait, I have that somewhere.
I dusted off the storage container of old CDs. Sure enough, there it was. It was a gift I received about eight years ago. I remember how I used to listen to it all the time—over and over again. But for some reason, I just don’t recall being into this particular song. But now, as I’m re-discovering it, I can’t stop listening to it. So, why is it connecting with me in such a strong way this time…years later?
The Word of God works in the same way. Sometimes—many times—it seems boring, irrelevant. I don’t get it. But if we study the Bible continually, meditate on it day and night, and obey all that is written in it (Joshua 1:8, paraphrased), God will reveal himself to us—sometimes immediately, but more often than not it will come later…when we least expect it.
The seeds He plants in our hearts need time to sprout and grow. And when that happens, like the song, we’ll fall in love with it and be greatly blessed by it. But that won’t happen if we don’t consistently spend time in God’s Word and give Him the chance to plant the seeds in our hearts in the first place.
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All rights reserved.
July 14, 2014
Be Faithful in the Little Things
Ever feel overwhelmed by e-mail—especially at work? You just want it to stop—or at least slow down a little.
But imagine the opposite: no messages. An empty inbox. Kind of like my spiritual life sometimes. “Why am I not hearing from you, God? Send me a message—just a small sign…anything!”
Consider this: unlike this world, God won’t overwhelm us by piling it on, demanding more and more from us. He’s patiently waiting for us to take care of the last thing He asked us to do. Did I obey Him then? Or did I take a pass because it didn't line-up with what I wanted?
“Father God: I don’t want to miss out on all that you have planned for me. Help me to be faithful to you first—even with the little things you ask of me—before I wonder why I’m not hearing from you about the big things that matter to me.”
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All Rights Reserved.
But imagine the opposite: no messages. An empty inbox. Kind of like my spiritual life sometimes. “Why am I not hearing from you, God? Send me a message—just a small sign…anything!”
Consider this: unlike this world, God won’t overwhelm us by piling it on, demanding more and more from us. He’s patiently waiting for us to take care of the last thing He asked us to do. Did I obey Him then? Or did I take a pass because it didn't line-up with what I wanted?
“Father God: I don’t want to miss out on all that you have planned for me. Help me to be faithful to you first—even with the little things you ask of me—before I wonder why I’m not hearing from you about the big things that matter to me.”
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All Rights Reserved.
July 13, 2014
Prayers over a shotgun
Is it too early to pray for my future sons-in-law? Three little boys…presumably already out there somewhere. I may already know them, but chances are they’re complete strangers. They may be nearby, or they may be on the other side of the world.
Hopefully there’s someone in their lives praying for them now, just as I am daily for my own girls. But what if there isn’t?
Father God, protect them physically from harm and shield them spiritually from the many evil influences of this world. Nurture them to have gentle, humble, loving hearts. Train them to walk along the right path, disciplining them quickly but mercifully when they drift away. Prepare them to be spiritual leaders willing to serve you faithfully. And most importantly, give them a deep desire to seek and follow your will for their lives more than anything else this world has to offer. So that when they meet my daughters—in your time and according to your perfect plan—all six of them will be ready to obey your will.
Or I can wait for the wedding day to wonder who that bozo is standing next to my daughter.
I think I’ll start praying now.
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All rights reserved.
Hopefully there’s someone in their lives praying for them now, just as I am daily for my own girls. But what if there isn’t?
Father God, protect them physically from harm and shield them spiritually from the many evil influences of this world. Nurture them to have gentle, humble, loving hearts. Train them to walk along the right path, disciplining them quickly but mercifully when they drift away. Prepare them to be spiritual leaders willing to serve you faithfully. And most importantly, give them a deep desire to seek and follow your will for their lives more than anything else this world has to offer. So that when they meet my daughters—in your time and according to your perfect plan—all six of them will be ready to obey your will.
Or I can wait for the wedding day to wonder who that bozo is standing next to my daughter.
I think I’ll start praying now.
Copyright 2014 Tony Yang. All rights reserved.
