“So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.” – Ezekiel 3:14
Ezekiel’s calling was not glamorous, easy, or widely accepted. He was chosen to minister to Israel during their captivity in Babylon—a season of national grief, rebellion, and spiritual blindness. Alongside Jeremiah and Daniel, Ezekiel stood as a voice of truth in a time when truth was unwelcome. God made it clear from the beginning that Ezekiel’s ministry would be difficult, resisted, and even despised. Yet God also assured him that His hand would be upon him.
Before Ezekiel ever preached a word, God told him that the people would accuse him, reject him, and ignore him. He would be asked to perform unusual symbolic acts, live among the exiles, and deliver messages no one wanted to hear. God even said, “I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.” Ezekiel was not called to popularity—he was called to obedience. And he was commanded to speak God’s words “whether they hear or whether they refuse.” It’s no wonder that when we reach chapter three, we find Ezekiel wrestling with discouragement, anger, and bitterness. He was human. He felt the weight of the calling.
Yet even in his frustration, Ezekiel recognized something vital: the hand of the Lord was strong upon him. God’s presence did not remove the difficulty, but it strengthened him to endure it. Every servant of God—past and present—has moments of heaviness, doubt, and weariness. But like Ezekiel, we are reminded that obedience is not fueled by our emotions; it is sustained by God’s hand. When His hand is upon us, we find courage to continue, strength to stand, and faith to fulfill what He has asked of us.
God may call you into seasons that feel heavy, lonely, or misunderstood. You may wrestle with discouragement just as Ezekiel did. But His hand is still strong upon you. Will you trust Him enough to keep walking, keep serving, and keep obeying—whether others listen or refuse? Lean into His strength today, and let His hand steady your heart for the work He has placed before you.
“It is a costly thing to be a true servant of Jesus Christ, but His hand upholds every cost.” – Amy Carmichael
surrendered devotions 