I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine. Her name is Hannah. The truth is I have never met her face to face because she lived in Old Testament days. But I’ve been reading her story and I feel as if I know her well. We share some of the same life struggles and hurts. With the advantage of hindsight, I have learned lessons from her that teach me about God and His healing grace. Over the next month, I would like to share some of these lessons with you and pray that they will serve as a salve to your hurting heart.
If you’ve never read Hannah’s story, you can find it in 1 Samuel 1:4 – 2:10. She was married to a man named Elkannah. As was the custom in Old Testament days, Elkannah had another wife as well. He name was Peninnah and she had children with Elkannah. Unfortunately, Hannah had not been able to have children and this was a source of great pain for her. Most of us as women can relate to her desire to have children; but we don’t necessarily have the same cultural implications regarding being childless that Hannah had. These pressures created an unbearable bitter spirit within her. Let’s consider how Hannah’s world was a little different than ours.
1. In the Old Testament, a woman without children struggled financially and had a low economic status. Children worked alongside their parents assisting them in making money for the family. The more children in a family, the more potential for wealth.
2. Along those same lines, a woman’s future security was dependent upon her children. Women usually outlived their husbands. When they became widows, they lived with their adult children who provided for them. A woman with no children could face destitution as a widow.
3. Having children (particularly boys ) meant survival for the tribe. The boys were the ones who became warriors and defenders of the community against their enemies. The more male children in a tribe, the greater the likelihood of survival in the event of a war.
As you can see, Hannah was not only heartbroken because she was childless, but she was treated as someone who was unworthy. In fact, her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, was quite cruel to her. (see 1 Samuel 1:6-7). Can you imagine living with that?
But aren’t we like Hannah in someways? She believed the lie that she was unworthy taught to her by society. (Of course she was worthy, she was a child of the King who is the Lord of the Angel armies.) Isn’t it true that we believe the lies that our own society teaches us?
“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. Malachi 3:17
Journal Prompts 1. Are you struggling with self worth? Write a letter to God and tell Him about it. Describe how you feel and when you feel that way. Ask Him to remind you that you are His treasure.
2. What lies are you believing that is causing you great pain? (example: that your house always has to be spotless, that you have to look like the women in the magazines, etc.). Write them out and identify them as falsehoods. Then write a few examples of God’s Word that will replace the lie with Truth. (example Malachi 3:17, Ephesians 1:3-6)
Look for more lessons from Hannah in my next blog post.
If you’ve never read Hannah’s story, you can find it in 1 Samuel 1:4 – 2:10. She was married to a man named Elkannah. As was the custom in Old Testament days, Elkannah had another wife as well. He name was Peninnah and she had children with Elkannah. Unfortunately, Hannah had not been able to have children and this was a source of great pain for her. Most of us as women can relate to her desire to have children; but we don’t necessarily have the same cultural implications regarding being childless that Hannah had. These pressures created an unbearable bitter spirit within her. Let’s consider how Hannah’s world was a little different than ours.
1. In the Old Testament, a woman without children struggled financially and had a low economic status. Children worked alongside their parents assisting them in making money for the family. The more children in a family, the more potential for wealth.
2. Along those same lines, a woman’s future security was dependent upon her children. Women usually outlived their husbands. When they became widows, they lived with their adult children who provided for them. A woman with no children could face destitution as a widow.
3. Having children (particularly boys ) meant survival for the tribe. The boys were the ones who became warriors and defenders of the community against their enemies. The more male children in a tribe, the greater the likelihood of survival in the event of a war.
As you can see, Hannah was not only heartbroken because she was childless, but she was treated as someone who was unworthy. In fact, her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, was quite cruel to her. (see 1 Samuel 1:6-7). Can you imagine living with that?
But aren’t we like Hannah in someways? She believed the lie that she was unworthy taught to her by society. (Of course she was worthy, she was a child of the King who is the Lord of the Angel armies.) Isn’t it true that we believe the lies that our own society teaches us?
- That we must be thin to be attractive?
- That we must have a new car and fancy house to be respected?
- That we must be superwomen and raise a family and hold down a full-time job at the same time?
- That we must always have a smile on our face and pretend we are not hurting?
- That we must_______________________ (you fill in the blank with the lie that you are believing)
“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. Malachi 3:17
Journal Prompts 1. Are you struggling with self worth? Write a letter to God and tell Him about it. Describe how you feel and when you feel that way. Ask Him to remind you that you are His treasure.
2. What lies are you believing that is causing you great pain? (example: that your house always has to be spotless, that you have to look like the women in the magazines, etc.). Write them out and identify them as falsehoods. Then write a few examples of God’s Word that will replace the lie with Truth. (example Malachi 3:17, Ephesians 1:3-6)
Look for more lessons from Hannah in my next blog post.