Hannah is one of the most well-known women in the Bible. She is now for her faith in the Lord during a time of adversity in her life.
Hannah’s story is found in 1 Samuel 1. She was one of two wives to Elkanah. Sadly she was barren and could have no children of her own. During this time in the Bible, barrenness brought deep shame upon a family. This is because children were counted as a blessing from God.
Because of Hannah’s barrenness, Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, “kept provoking her in order to irritate her” 1 Samuel 1:6. Even though Hannah was taunted by Peninnah, she still surrendered to the Lord and had faith.
At the entrance of the Tabernacle, Hannah prayed “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head” 1 Samuel 1:11. Because of her strong faith, the Lord blessed Hannah with a son.
Here are three important lessons on how to have strong faith like Hannah.
Take Our Problems Straight to God
Whenever you are faced with difficulties in life, what do you do first? Do you start dwelling on the problem, or do you take it to God first? It is so easy to find ourselves in this mindset. However, like Hannah, we should take our problems straight to God. Psalm 55:22 states that you should “cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” We must make sure that our eyes are focused on God and He will help us through trials.
God’s Timing is Perfect
One key verse mentioned in the story of Hannah is 1 Samuel 1:5. It states that “the LORD had closed her womb.” So why did God do this? Maybe we don’t always understand the reason and purpose behind everything He does. He can’t see what God sees so we may never understand, but we can trust that the Lord has the perfect plan and that His timing is perfect.
Think about this. Samuel needed to be born at a specific time because God has a plan for his life. God also needed Hannah to be in a place where she was willing to allow Samuel to be brought up by Eli. God had a much bigger purpose than simply granting Hannah’s desire to have a child. He had a plan to have Samuel in the right place, at the right time. Trust in God’s timing.
Remember God’s Faithfulness
During trying times, we must always remember that the Lord is right by our side. Remembering this will strengthen, encourage, and let us know that no matter what we face in life He has not abandoned us. Even after God gave Hannah the blessing of her son Samuel, she continued to give praise to God and have unwavering faith. Just like Hannah, if we continue to thank the Lord for His blessings we are reminded and encouraged that God has not forgotten us.
Conclusion
Hannah is such a wonderful example of living by faith. Life can be difficult, but just remember to trust the Lord in His unique timing, and always give His praise – even through the tough times. As a woman in ministry, there can be many difficult things that pop. However, reflect on Hannah’s faithfulness to the Lord. Though it may be hard to see and understand God’s will in our lives, we can have confidence in Him.
If you are looking for encouragement, She Leads Church ‘22 will be an awesome opportunity to join a community of like-minded women in ministry and hear from our amazing speakers. Register for this online summit and get your free ticket @ sheleadschurch.com. See you there!
