“And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh.” I Samuel 1:3
Same time every year, the family journeyed to Shiloh to worship the Lord. And each year I am sure that Hannah looked at the growing family and hoped in her heart that God would hear her prayer and give her a child. It was always hard at these times as she felt people looked at her, judging her because she was barren. She hated to face others, but she knew that going for the yearly worship was important, and so she persevered.
Maybe it would be different this year. As Elkanah distributed the food, he gave Peninnah and her children their portion but gave more to Hannah. As her adversary provoked her, she began to weep and refused to eat. She had reached the end of her rope. Elkanah pleaded with her to eat, reinforcing his love for her.
She had persevered for years, rising above the pain that she bore. She had trusted God and done everything she knew to worship and please him. But it seemed like she had come to the end of her rope. In desperation, she walked away from her family and found a quiet place to seek the face of the Lord.
Sometimes the burdens of life press upon us until we feel that there is no hope in sight. The enemy would like to tell us that there is something wrong, that the Lord doesn’t love us and that there is no hope. We find it is hard to face others and feel that life is not worth living.
But the Lord understands all that we are going through, He knows how much we can take, and He is just waiting for us to quit trying to work things out in our own way, and just trust in Him. It is then that we must rest upon the promises of God and let Him have complete control.
I Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Tomorrow we will look at Hannah’s prayer.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you are our strength and our deliverance, that nothing can come upon us that is not your will. Help us to persevere in worship and in seeking your face.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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