Pastor spoke eloquently on Mother’s Day about the story of Hannah and her desire to be a mother. I was touched by his love and insights into this woman’s story and how God answered her, just as He will answer each of us in His way when we surrender to Him.
Our story begins with a woman that is loved by her husband, despised by his other wife and ridiculed by her as she does not have children. In the Jewish culture of their day, not having children was considered a curse from God. They probably felt it was her fault and that she had sinned. As her punishment from God, she was not able to have children. However, we see in this story that Hannah’s childlessness led to Samuel being born and raised in the house of the Lord to serve Him all his life. Samuel was a great prophet of God and God used him mightily. The circumstances of his birth and rearing added to his being chosen by God for His work. Hannah was blessed for her devotion to God, trust in God and dependence upon Him. She submitted to God’s will and let it develop in her life.
We first see Hannah praying fervently in the temple asking God for a child. She vows if she has a child she will dedicate him to the Lord. Her prayer reminds me of Psalm 142 where we see David praying with this same fervor. Vs 1-2 “With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him. 5 I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
David pours out his heart before God, just as Hannah did. 1 Samuel 1:10-11
“ She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
Both of them were experiencing distress in their lives. Hannah from being childless and David from being pursued by Saul. They both poured out their problems to the Lord and left their heart’s desires before the Lord.
I have often prayed the promise of God in Psalm 37:3-4. “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Both Hannah and David trusted God with their heart’s desires. They did not demand action from God but asked, and then left the results up to God and for His will their lives.
How about you?
Are you willing to trust God with your heart’s desires?
Are you afraid He will misunderstand, or not grant them? What is the alternative? If you don’t, you wrestle with them, with doubt, with anger, with despair. If you do, you are granted peace. Look at Hannah’s countenance after praying 1 Samuel 1:17-18 “Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” She was at peace. David also is at peace Psalm 142: 7b “The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.” Both David and Hannah knew God and trusted in His wisdom for their future. Surrendering to God allows Him to work in our lives and bless us with His peace and grants our heart’s desires.
May you walk this week in surrender to Him.
Linda
Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass
May you walk this week in surrender to Him.
Linda
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Linda is a member of Crossroads church and regularly blogs about her faith.
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