A Dedicated Praise
By: Hannah Suttle
“And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.” I Samuel 1:6-7
Read I Samuel 1 -2
Have you ever just felt so overwhelmed by your trial, wondering why God doesn’t see fit to answer your prayer for deliverance? While I’m sure we’ve all been here at some point, Hannah had too. “And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.” I Samuel 1:6-7
Several things stood out to me about Hannah’s testimony during her trial: she never complained, she never stopped praying, and she praised the Lord for what He was going to do before she knew what that was going to be. She simply took her burdens and her dreams to the Lord.
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22
In the first part of chapter one (verses 1 - 8), I see Hannah’s problem. At the outset, it seemed like she had the perfect life. She had a husband who loved and adored her more than anything. She had a church that she visited year by year and made her sacrifices. But she also had a friend who reminded her of something that she could have, but didn’t — something that was leaving a hole in her heart. I am reminded from this that contentment is necessary in every single stage of life. It’s so easy to get our perspective on what we don’t have, instead of the abundant blessings God has already showered us with. (Philippians 4:11).
In the second part of chapter one (verses 9 - 18), I see Hannah’s prayer. Hannah had a desire, but she also knew to whom the product of that desire belonged. “if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life,” (I Samuel 1:11). Throughout these next few verses, we see her placing her faith in God over and over again. “She continued praying” (vs. 12) “poured out my soul before the Lord.” (vs.15). After she placed her faith in the Lord, she went away in peace. (vs. 17-18). How many of our burdens are we still feeling the weight of simply because we’re still carrying them? Hannah dedicated her dreams to the Lord before He even answered them. That is faith.
In the third part of the chapter (verses 19-28 and 2:1-10), I see Hannah’s praise. After she committed her burden to the Lord, she left in a state of worship. Keep in mind, God hadn’t yet answered her prayer… that was still to come, but she still left the house of the Lord worshipping. Her prayers were answered in time, as we all well know the story, and she gave her son back to the Lord. “As long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.” (vs. 28). After she gave God what she had prayed for, she kept on praising the Lord for what He had done for her.
So it is here I ask myself, “What am I holding back from God that is hindering Him from using me?” What more can I commit to the Lord that would give me the ability to praise Him more? When I get my eyes off of my trials, then it is clear… He is worthy of all of my praise and trust.
