The Christmas season for the Christian is a time of hope. It marks the birth of our Savior, but this time can be hard for a lot of people. I think about my wife, who’s grandma passed away on Christmas day nine years ago. Robin’s greater hope is in the God of her circumstances but every Christmas she’s sad that her gram is not with us. Other people  are going through hurt right now that just leaves them with bitterness of the soul. And what do we do with hurt like this? Every time I’m hurting and my heart is broken I Just love reading what Hannah did in 1 Samuel.  Look at the Text:

1 Samuel 1

The Birth of Samuel

 1There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite [a]from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

 3Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8Elkanah her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

 9Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple.  10 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon 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.”

 12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.”

 15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

 18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

 19Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,  saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him- 1 Samuel 1:1-20

 There is a lot to learn from these verses but let’s focus on Hannah. In verse 6 Peninnah who have children is provoking her because of her circumstances. The verse says she did this to irritate her. I think we have all had people like this in our lives that remind us of bad times. For whatever reason they want us to be unhappy or their just unhappy and just want to make everybody feel their pain. Whatever the case, we will face circumstances and even people like Peninnah.We can’t control the way their going to act but I pray God will give us grace to respond like Hannah. Verse 7 says this provoking happen year after year as Hannah went up to the House of the Lord to Worship. Peninnah kept on her till Hannah wept and could not eat. Now we would want revenge. We want payback!  But look what Hannah does. She takes her very real pain and circumstances to God. Verse 10 says in bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. O how we need to get this into our hearts. In the darkest times of life let us run to our God and Father. Lets be real with him and trust him to work out the circumstances in our life. Prayer is where we meet God to talk with him with not just mere religious speech but with real heart felt words that are filled with joy and at times with pain. Hannah prayed that God would remember her in her misery and that he would give her son. She than vowed to give this son to the Lord’s service. She was so lost in prayer that Eli the priest thought she was drunk. she tells him not to take her as a wicked woman because she was praying out of great anguish and grief. It’s my prayer that one day I can get so lost in prayer and worship that no matter who is around that the only one that matters is God. After Eli gives her encouragement verse 18 tells us that she went her way ate something,and that her face was no longer downcast. Of Course we find out in verses 19 and 20 that God answers her prayer but it says in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son named Samuel. The text doesn’t say it but  think about it. Peninnah is still in her life. She was at the temple that night and most likely knows about the prayer Hannah prayed. Who knows how much time passed before the prayer was answered, but I can only imagine the evil things Hannah heard from Peninnah. But Hannah trusted God, and he was her vindication and victory. 

     In our lives it so easy to give up on God when we feel like he hasn’t answered our prayers. We need to trust that He’s a good Father and will always gives us what we need when we need it.  I once had a friend’s mom tell me that no normal girl would ever date me or want to marry me. I prayed for God to bring me someone who would love me, and for years it seemed like the answer was no. But than God answered my prayer by giving me Robin. She loves me at my worst and challenges me to be my best. People told me I would never amount to much because of my cp. I prayed that God would use me in his service. He responded by making me a youth pastor and preacher. He allowed me to work at a place that fight for the rights of people with disabilities. In my times of pain, tears, and depression God has answered me with a remarkable life. My God didn’t give me everything I wanted, but everything I have needed. Learn from Hannah, take your cares to God. When your hope is in God, you’ll never be let down not matter the circumstance or Peninnah in your life.  God Bless