The lesson of Hannah

“But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul before the Lord.”

1 Samuel 1:15 (AMP)

 

As I continue to grow in Christ, prayer has become a very important facet of my life. I am just pouring my heart out to God in ways I hadn’t before and I can truthfully say that I have gotten to the place in my life where I am truly praying without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

I speak to God both in the natural and in the spiritual. However, it is when I speak to Him in the spiritual that I feel the closest to Him because it is only then when I am not speaking from my fleshly desires, but I am speaking from my soul that I leave the encounter filled with Godly assurance that whatever troubles me will be okay.

Recently, I came across Hannah’s story and read it again as I had many times prior; however, this time was different because I was able to read it from another perspective.  This time I read it in Hannah’s shoes, because I know, like her, what it is like to want something so desperately that there aren’t words, only sorrows and tears, to articulate it.

Some burdens are just so great that they require you to separate your flesh (person) so that you are able to enter into the throne room and speak to God soul to soul.  It is then and only then when you will be able to pour your soul out to Him and walk away from the encounter with Him knowing in every fiber of your being that He hears, loves you and will answer.

Hannah’s burden was that she was barren. She wanted a child with every fiber of her being.  In those days, giving birth and having many children was a mark of womanhood and so for her to not be able to produce children brought great shame to her heart.

But Hannah was a woman of prayer and she knew that the only way for her to have absolute peace from this burden was to surrender it fully at Her Savior’s feet and trust that He will answer her in His time and in His way.

After a blessing from Eli, the priest, she walked away from the altar full of God’s peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Her lesson is our lesson too.

As children of God, we have to trust that He loves us so much that He will answer our prayers in His perfect way according to His perfect will. So, when we approach Him at the cross we can know that whatever troubles us is secure in His hands because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)

The only way to have absolute peace from whatever burden you may have is to surrender it completely to Jesus and rest in His sweet care.  He will come through magnificently on your behalf.

In Hannah’s case, God heard her cries and blessed her with not just any son, but a Prophet named Samuel (whose name means God Hears), almost immediately.

How much more God wants to do for all of us?

I encourage you to pour your soul out to the Lord and watch Him move in your life.  He is able and willing to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we could dare ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

Trust Him on that and watch Him move suddenly in your life too!

Loving Father, thank You that I can pour my heart out to You openly because You care for me.  I thank You that You hear and that You will answer perfectly according to Your will for my life.  I love and I praise.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

-Nina Fortson