Prayer does not make God see things as we see them; it helps us see things as God sees them. ~ anon
If you have not already done so, please read the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 and 2. Previously we have seen that Hannah was a woman in deep anguish and bitterness in her soul. And, who could blame her? Her husband’s heart was divided between her and his other wife. She had no peace in her home because she was ridiculed and belittled by her husband’s other wife as she had children and Hannah did not. Her husband didn’t understand her pain (see 1 Samuel 1:8). Even her priest didn’t understand her and thought she was drunk in the temple during worship. She fell scorned by society for being childless. That’s a heavy burden.
Even though Hannah was at a very low point in her life, she took steps to make sure the acid of bitterness and despair did not eat away her soul. She went through a progression of healthy, Biblical steps toward healing.
1. As we previously saw in 1 Samuel 1:10 our sister Hannah took her honest feelings to God in prayer.( Read more about Hannah’s prayer here)
“Prayers and tears are the Saint’s best weapons.” John Trapp 2. She committed her situation and its outcome to God. Specifically, she committed them to the LORD Almighty (verse 11). This is a specific reference to her understanding that she was praying to the Commander of the Angel Armies. He was the LORD of Hosts. No doubt Hannah felt attacked (verbally and spiritually) so she called to the Ruler of all Armies to protect her.
3. Here’s an important next step in Hannah’s healing process: She received God’s Word in faith and praised Him.
Long before Hannah had an answer to her prayer, she praised God. Verse 19 of chapter 1 tells us that the very next morning after committing her situation to God, she awoke and worship Him. Her faith was strong because she had met heart to heart with her Heavenly Father. This is such an important thread that runs though out the entire Bible. Praise God before you know the answer to your prayer, not just after you receive it.
And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them. Hebrews 6:12
Hannah’s sacrifice of praise doesn’t stop here. She teaches us the same lesson when her son is old enough to be taken to the temple to live with the priests and be trained in God’s service. I can’t begin to imagine the bitter sweetness of that moment. How hard it must have been for Hannah and Elkannah to present their son to the priest after having raised him for three years. Yet, they continued to praise. (see 1 Samuel 1:28). While this may not have been a perfect family, they still praised God. What a legacy.
Journal prompts 1. Do you find it difficult to move forward in full-bodied hope after you have poured your heart out to God in prayer? If you do, what gets in your way?
2. Read Psalm 126:5. What does it mean to “sow in tears”? What does it mean to “reap in joy”?
3. What have you learned from Hannah?
Be sure to join me in my next blog post about “Lessons from Hannah”.
If you have not already done so, please read the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 and 2. Previously we have seen that Hannah was a woman in deep anguish and bitterness in her soul. And, who could blame her? Her husband’s heart was divided between her and his other wife. She had no peace in her home because she was ridiculed and belittled by her husband’s other wife as she had children and Hannah did not. Her husband didn’t understand her pain (see 1 Samuel 1:8). Even her priest didn’t understand her and thought she was drunk in the temple during worship. She fell scorned by society for being childless. That’s a heavy burden.
Even though Hannah was at a very low point in her life, she took steps to make sure the acid of bitterness and despair did not eat away her soul. She went through a progression of healthy, Biblical steps toward healing.
1. As we previously saw in 1 Samuel 1:10 our sister Hannah took her honest feelings to God in prayer.( Read more about Hannah’s prayer here)
“Prayers and tears are the Saint’s best weapons.” John Trapp 2. She committed her situation and its outcome to God. Specifically, she committed them to the LORD Almighty (verse 11). This is a specific reference to her understanding that she was praying to the Commander of the Angel Armies. He was the LORD of Hosts. No doubt Hannah felt attacked (verbally and spiritually) so she called to the Ruler of all Armies to protect her.
3. Here’s an important next step in Hannah’s healing process: She received God’s Word in faith and praised Him.
Long before Hannah had an answer to her prayer, she praised God. Verse 19 of chapter 1 tells us that the very next morning after committing her situation to God, she awoke and worship Him. Her faith was strong because she had met heart to heart with her Heavenly Father. This is such an important thread that runs though out the entire Bible. Praise God before you know the answer to your prayer, not just after you receive it.
And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them. Hebrews 6:12
Hannah’s sacrifice of praise doesn’t stop here. She teaches us the same lesson when her son is old enough to be taken to the temple to live with the priests and be trained in God’s service. I can’t begin to imagine the bitter sweetness of that moment. How hard it must have been for Hannah and Elkannah to present their son to the priest after having raised him for three years. Yet, they continued to praise. (see 1 Samuel 1:28). While this may not have been a perfect family, they still praised God. What a legacy.
Journal prompts 1. Do you find it difficult to move forward in full-bodied hope after you have poured your heart out to God in prayer? If you do, what gets in your way?
2. Read Psalm 126:5. What does it mean to “sow in tears”? What does it mean to “reap in joy”?
3. What have you learned from Hannah?
Be sure to join me in my next blog post about “Lessons from Hannah”.