The Irritants Around You

1 Samuel 1:6

New International Version (NIV)

Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.

For meditation

There are many of them – those irritants. They seek space under your skin and spread their poison through your entire body. Your mind is their primary target, and they go after it with their deadliest arsenals. They compare, criticize, flaunt, insult, threaten – all those things they know would work well under your skin; they spew with devious intent. Their goal is to provoke you to wrong action and distract you from what’s important (Ne. 6:3). They are crafty, persistent, overreaching, overbearing, and timely. How else could they get to your heart? You try to avoid them, but they are always in your face or ears. They work it until your tank fills up and you crank the engine, shift the gear, and step on the accelerator. It’s either your mouth or hand that responds first; and then, they have you – body and soul. Don’t let them!

Hannah had an irritant in her home. The provocative words of her marital rival, Peninnah, tore through her skin with cold hatred (1 Sam. 1:6-8). And she did very well at it until one day, “in deep anguish,” Hannah poured her heart before God at Shiloh (10-18). God heard her, and “in the course of time” Hannah gave birth to Samuel (20). She found the right antidote to stop her irritant in her tracks – God!

God is, in a sense, like the sea to the irritants in our lives. He receives all our waste and garbage and sanitizes them with His salt of grace. He then refreshes us with streams of living water that only He possesses (Jn. 7:38; 4:14). He calls us to cast all our anxiety on him because he cares for us (1 Pt. 5:7). Jesus calls out to all “who are weary and burdened” to come into His rest (Matt. 11:28). And the Holy Spirit counsels us to bring our wearied souls to God “by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving” in exchange for His peace, “which transcends understanding to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). Nehemiah knew this very well. Every time Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem spewed their provocative words at him, he responded by taking it to the Lord in prayer (Ne. 4:4-5; 6:9, 14).

But you may say, “How about those irritants?” Listen to what God says. “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay” (Rm. 12:19).

So, who or what has become the irritant in your life? Is it your husband, wife, sibling, co-worker, or your boss? Shake them off by going on your knees, get up by the grace of God, and go about the great project you’re undertaking for the Lord like Nehemiah.

And, may the joy of the Lord be your strength in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

Shalom