The Word tells you God is faithful and He will provide a way for you, but He doesn't always show us the way immediately. That is when you must wait...and trust. Waiting on God purifies your faith and builds character in you. You may not like waiting, but God's way is perfect! So be assured God has not forgotten you. Trust Him, and in His time He will reveal His perfect plan for you. While you're waiting, don't forget to enjoy your life.
1 Samuel 1:9-18
" Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord's temple. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. And she made a vow, saying, "O Lord Alighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."
"Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."
Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast."
What constitutes the most bitter pill you've ever had to swallow? All of us have them. Compared to each other they may seem major, but just as the only minor surgery is one that happens to someone else, the bitterness we feel is never minor.
Hannah's situation certainly involved no small pain. Childless. Tormented. Alone. A plight many have faced, but company proves small solace for misery.
Yet Hannah made the right choices about what to do with her bitterness. She "wept much and prayed to the Lord." (v 10) In her prayer, she made 2 almost unimaginable commitments. One was by far the easiest of the pair. She promised no razor would ever be used on his head. This meant the child would be a Nazirite, especially consecrated to the Lord. The other promise was to give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.
We could accuse her of bargaining with God, who does not bargain, but our God does search the earth for those with a heart toward Him so He can bless them ( 2 Chron. 16:9). Chronicles had not yet been written when Hannah was praying for a son, but somehow she sought in God what David later learned to be true: "The Lord searches every heart and understands every motion behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you" (1 Chron. 28:9). In bitterness she sought her Lord.
I believe God responded to Hannah's prayer for two reasons. First, HE IS GRACIOUS. He longs to pour His love on us. Second, HE . He KNEW HER HEART. He knew that what she said, she would do.
Hannah demonstrated that she took her vow to God seriously. For three years she would hold and love this child. Then she would fulfill her vow, loving her son even as she gave him to the One who gave him to her.
I never fail to be moved by this account in Scripture. How deeply this woman wanted a child. How easy to promise anything to get what we want, but Hannah did not voice empty words. Even in her bitterness of soul and great weeping, she made her vow to God with the steadfast determination to fulfill it.
This made me think of several verses that have been very relevant and alive in my life lately.
Matthew 6: 25-34 which talks about not worrying. That's always been hard for me because I like to figure everything out and have set plans for everyday of the week, but I tend to worry about certain aspects of those plans. God tells us specifically that the birds don't worry and they are given everything they need- won't that be the same for us since we are more valuable in God's eyes? I think back to the story of Hannah and how she poured her heart out to God and in her tears she asked God specifically what she longed for. This week I have done the same thing several times, and I wondered if it would ever get better; if my prays would ever be answered. But I didn't need to worry in the first place. God has us wait sometimes to strengthen our faith, and I know that's exactly what He was doing in my situation, and Hannah's as well.
Matthew 7 was also comforting: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
**My prayer this week is that we will be lead to the cross, broken, and fully ready to surrender our all to His will and plans for our lives. It's not always easy, but isn't it comforting to know that God's got our best interest at heart? I want my life to be used to further His kingdom; what about you?
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