699) As a writer, I have always been sensitive to words and their meanings. I notice when they seem to be overused (awesome, epic, etc.). As a teacher of writing, I have frequently said to my students, “If you use the word awesome for everything- like, ‘Pizza is awesome,’ what will you say if you watch the sunset over the Grand Canyon? You have already diminished the word’s meaning by misusing or overusing it”.

Overused words weaken their meaning and I think Christians overuse many, too, and this has been the result. An example is, “Give it to God.” What, exactly, does this mean? In my literal mind, I think of trying to hold the thing we want to “give to God,” lifting my arm toward the heavens and God will take it out of my hand. Surely this is not what people mean, right?

In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah asked for a son and said that if God agreed and gave her one, she would give the boy back to God; ‘Give it to God’. This is more like the literal idea I had been picturing, but three things come to my mind about these words. 1. Anything God gives us is ultimately his in the first place, so why would we think, “This is mine?” It’s more like these things are on loan to us. 2. Giving something to God may mean that you give up your control of it. You let God show you what He wants you to do with it. 3. After doing these first two things, you let God be responsible for the outcome, assuming that you have let God direct you concerning the thing/issue/person. Is this “giving” a simple thing? No, but things that are easy aren’t often worth much.