Day 13: Hannah

Her name means graciousness or favour. She was married to Elkanah (who had 2 wives, Hannah and Peninnah). Almost every woman desires to have a child. Most I should say. There are some who don't. But from the women I've encountered there is no greater joy on this earth than to bear your own sons and or daughters. The joys of motherhood is what we call them. Hannah like the women I've encountered, was no different. It was an agonizing experience for Hannah to be barren. Being loved by her husband could not erase her longing for children. She didn't just want children. The deep, unsatisfied longing for children, the pain of watching others bear one child after another, the anguish of watching a mother kiss her baby’s face — Hannah experienced it all. Sarah and Rachel had experienced what she was going through but these women dealt with this longing differently. Hannah poured out her heart to the Lord. She was in a perfect position to be bitter, angry, depressed and sorrowful. But instead she chose to call upon the name of the Lord. And the Lord graciously answered her prayers. Maybe your barreness is not in bearing children like Hannah. Maybe it's in your finances, or your marriage or your life in general. Maybe you are not seeing the progress and growth that you desire. Imagine that one thing that you've always wanted and somehow you are not getting it. May the story of Hannah ignite a faith in you to pick up the dream again and trust God that you will hold it with your hands. May Hannah provoke your faith to trust God not 'because' but to trust Him 'even though'. Anna writes, If Hannah had never had a child, she would still have gone down in Scripture’s narrative as a woman of faith. Hannah is not a woman of faith because she bore a child; she is a woman of faith because she sought God when she was in her deepest distress, because she realized that only he could answer her questions and that only he could provide the consolation and purpose in life she so desperately sought. Im reminded of the Hebrew Boys who said, "... Even if God doesn't take us out of the fire, we will still trust Him...". Our trust in God is not so much dependant on what He can do as it is dependant on who He is. We trust Him because of who He is not really what He can do. His works are a bonus to His nature. Yet added to that knowledge is the understanding that God is willing to meet us just as he met Hannah. Whatever our distress, whatever hard situations we face, he is willing — more than that, he is eager — to meet our needs and give us his grace and comfort. No other person — not our husband, not our closest friends, not our parents, not our children — can render the relief, support, and encouragement that our God has waiting for us. Hannah had prayed that it the Lord granted her a son she would give him back to the Lord. And she was faithful to her promise. She took Samuel back to the temple to be raised by Eli. Giving up her son couldn't have been easy. She had prayed for the child. And for her to honor her promise to God - that took a LOT. It may have looked like a loss to onlookers who probably questioned why she would take the son to the temple after so many years of not having a son. But the blessing that awaited her after that action was beyond words. The Lord blessed her with 3 more sons and 2 daughters. Maybe you've made certain promises to God which you haven't fulfilled. I pray Hannah's actions encourage you to go all the way and fulfill that promise. There is so much more to gain. Whatever is sown to the ground is never a loss. Trust Him to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing you will have no room to contain. He is that faithful. Be strengthened to do that which you promised your Maker. For Hannah, Samuel was not just an answer to her prayer but a new season in Hannah's life. She was not just a mother, but a mother to one of Israel's greatest prophet. She didn't just birth a son, she birthed destiny. Indeed the plans that God had for Hannah were good. There were plans to give her a beautiful end, much more than she ever expected. Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.