“And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband… Then her husband went along with her… weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, ‘Go, return!’ And he returned.” – 2 Samuel 3:15-16
At first glance, this moment feels harsh. Paltiel is weeping as Michal is taken from him, and Abner’s command seems cold. But when we step back and look at the context, the picture becomes clearer. Michal was originally David’s wife—given to him by Saul. Out of jealousy and rebellion, Saul took her away and gave her to Paltiel. Now that Saul is gone and David is king, Michal is being restored to the place she was meant to be all along.
Paltiel had embraced something that was never truly his. It was socially acceptable, government‑approved, and no one seemed bothered by it—but it was still outside God’s design. When the moment came for Michal to be removed from his life, he clung to her with tears, grieving over something that was never meant to stay. Abner’s words—“Go, return!”—sound blunt, but they were necessary. Paltiel needed to release what God was removing. Holding on would only deepen the pain and prolong the loss.
There are moments in our lives when God begins to remove something we have accepted—something that may be culturally normal, legally permitted, or emotionally familiar, yet never meant for us. At first, it can feel cruel. It can feel like loss. It can feel like something precious is being taken away. But when we see it through God’s eyes, we realize He is restoring order, protecting our future, and clearing space for what He does intend to give. His removal is often His mercy.
Is God speaking to you about something He never meant for you to hold? Are you clinging to it, grieving over it, or trying to keep it alive? Maybe He is gently saying, “Let it go. I love you. I know what is best.” God has a plan for your good, your future, and your hope—but He cannot place His best in hands that are still gripping what was never meant to stay. If He is asking you to release something today, will you trust Him enough to let go?
“When God takes away, He always gives back something better—if only we will trust Him enough to let go.” – Charles Spurgeon
surrendered devotions 