Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

“What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”
1 Samuel 3:15-18

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There’s no denying having a hard conversation is difficult. Shortly after the restrictions were lifted and life began returning to a post-COVID normal, my company embraced the initiative of returning to work. Much to my surprise, this also included my team, a group that had always been remote. As the leader, I had the difficult task of informing my team that we would no longer be able to work from home and would soon be required to work from the office.

I felt the weight of sharing this news and how it would impact everyday life for each member of my team in different ways. And because my team had always been remote, I anticipated the news would be received poorly. I played out the conversations in my mind, preparing for pushback, disappointment, and frustration. I rehearsed all the possible responses and tried to remind myself that no amount of worry or preparation would make the message easier to deliver. I didn’t want to share it because I knew they wouldn’t want to hear it. But the truth remained—it was a significant but necessary change.

When the time came to share the news, it was met with some excitement but also resistance. As I listened to their feedback, I realized what a gift it was to have this transparent conversation. Their willingness to share their frustrations allowed me to better understand the challenges they faced, which allowed us to work together to find solutions. If they had remained silent, I wouldn’t have known how to support them through the change.

Obedience isn’t always easy, especially when God asks us to step into uncomfortable situations. Samuel was afraid to share what God had revealed to him, but he chose obedience over fear. Hard conversations often require us to speak truthfully, even when we know the outcome may not be what others want to hear. Yet, in those moments, God invites us into deeper relationships built on trust, honesty, and transparency.  

Like Samuel, we might feel fear or hesitation. But this verse reminds us that hearing God’s voice requires more than just listening—it calls us to respond with courage.

Next Steps

What is God asking you to step into today? Is there a difficult conversation, a bold decision, or an act of faith He’s placed on your heart?

Even when fear lingers, trust that God equips those He calls. He doesn’t just speak — He walks with us through every step of obedience.