We learn about so many powerful and selfless women in scripture, how does someone just choose one? How does someone choose who to write about? I remembered the story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, and knew it was perfect.
In 1 Samuel we get an introduction to Hannah where we learn that she longed for a child, she longed to be a mother, but we also discover in her introduction that “the LORD had closed her womb” (1 Samuel 1:5 ESV). Let me interject that I’m only 20 and have ZERO plans of having kids anytime soon, but the outcome of her story - faith in the midst of a storm - was so powerful to me.
Hannah had always been a faithful wife. She was a woman of longing, trust, and prayer. Even though being constantly ridiculed and humiliated for her inability to have children, she never lost faith and stayed in prayer, keeping full trust in God. After dinner one evening she went to pray and began to weep. She sat on her knees weeping and mouthing her prayer while yelling it in her heart. Eli, the priest who was sitting at the temple, began to accuse her of being drunk, telling her to put her wine away, Hannah exclaimed back to Eli that she had not been drinking and this was a symptom of her pouring out her soul of misery. After the confrontation, Hannah heard the decree from Eli to “Go in peace and may the God of Israel give you what you have asked Him for” (1 Samuel 1:17). From that moment forward, Hannah decided to have the most faith to just let go, and let God do what only God can do.
We hear that phrase all the time. ..
Let go… and Let God…
So...what does that mean for us? How do we gain the faith that Hannah showed to finally just stop and trust God’s plan for us, despite the storms from the world around us? How do we, in this world where so many things try to intercept His path for us, let go and TRUST GOD?
The definition of faith, according to Merriam Webster, is “complete trust”. Let’s isolate the word TRUST, What does trust mean to you? What trust do you see Hannah bring to the Lord?
Hannah had the TRUST to have faith in God’s plan for her life, even if it meant waiting in misery even longer. She finally learned that, to have full faith in God, sometimes all it takes is for you to take a step back and let Him work it out. We tend to forget that we don't control God and what we want may not be what He has planned for us. We have to take the leap of faith like Hannah and LET GO of our wants and LET GOD do what He has planned. When we remain faithful and steadfast in Him and His word, His rewards are great.
So, as we continue to read in 1 Samuel, we see the blessing and miracle that took place in Hannah’s life. Because she had the faith to put it at the hands of God, He answers her and blesses her with the child, Samuel, which translates out to HE HEARS.
When we have faith like Hannah and are able to LET GO of our desires and LET GOD do what only He can do, we can be certain that HE indeed will HEAR.
God,
I pray over the people reading this post and the ones who aren’t. I pray for them to have enough faith for You to do what only You can do. For the moms, children, grandparents- whoever may be reading this- for those who struggle like Hannah and are constantly on their knees crying out to You, that You may give them the faith Hannah had to let go and let You work in their life. Thank you for the powerful examples of women You have placed before us that we may learn how to live from them. Amen.
Read Hannah’s story - 1 Samuel 1-2
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