I began to think about the word ‘yield’ this past week when I was dutifully waiting my turn to enter a roundabout on my way to Bible Study. As I entered into my lane, I thought about what an uncommon gesture yielding is in our culture today and how this is one of the few places, that people (mostly) thoughtfully wait their turn and allow others to go before them in a civilized fashion. 

In most other places what you see is people jumping in front of people in the line and wandering about the grocery store, so focused on fulfilling their own list they all but forget that there are other people shopping too. Our competitive, individualistic society has caused us to forget the simple, humble act of yielding. 

Admittedly, I have often failed at this myself. I have taken more than I needed so that someone else had less. I have put my own needs, ideas, and opinions in front of relationships, and I have held on to my own pride and refused when someone simply asks me if I’d like a friendly hand. 

As I delved further into this bout of introspection, I realized that yield has more than one meaning. It can mean to give way to something or someone else, or it can mean to produce something – think “Yields 4 dozen cookies”. 

At Bible Study that night, we discussed the story of Hannah and her son Samuel. Hannah, barren and ridiculed for it, yielded herself and her hope for a child to the Lord. God saw her faith and genuine heart and she bore (some might say yielded) Samuel. 

Samuel was yielded to the Lord, as Hannah had promised and brought up in the priesthood. Samuel is one of the first leaders that God used to bring His people back to Him after His people had turned away for hundreds of years. 

When Hannah yielded herself and her son to the Lord, the Lord yielded incredible outcomes for His people. 

What an excellent picture ‘yielding’ is in our walk with the Lord. 

God asks us to yield to His ways that are higher and deeper and wider than our own, trusting that His work will yield fruit for His Kingdom and His beloved creation. 

What are you struggling with that God might be asking you to yield to Him? What pieces of your life are you clinging to too tightly? Yield to God in each part of your life and watch what he yields in you and the world.