Hannah's Honor

Life often times presses upon us.  We find ourselves carrying burdens, some for a day or so others seem to always be there lurking under the surface seeking to rob us of joy and peace.  It bubbles up and we have a bad day or week.  The burdens capture our attention and they grow in size and weight until they have reached such huge proportions that faith fails and even God seems inadequate for the scope of our burden.  It is important to note that just because faith fails this does not mean that God has failed.  A weak or shrinking faith does not indicate a weak or shrinking God!

God is ever the same.  His power is never diminished.  His ability is never compromised.  His control is never relinquished.  This is why we are exhorted in 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.  This is a learning process.  We learn over the course of our Christian life how to do this.  It was Paul who reminded us that "I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content".  He learned it and we can too.  It is a matter of learning to cast care upon a God who cares!

Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 sets the example.

Vs: 2 - Hannah had no children
Vs: 5 - Hannah was loved by her husband
Vs: 5 - The LORD had shut up Hannah's womb
Vs: 6 - Hannah was provoked by an adversary, which was her husband's other wife who had borne children
Vs: 6 - Hannah was caused to fret because of her situation
Vs: 7 - Hannah was provoked to such a degree that she wept and did not eat
Vs: 8 - Hannah had become inconsolable
Vs: 10 - Hannah was in bitterness of soul, she prayed, and she wept sore
Vs: 15 - Hannah was sorrowful of spirit and poured out her soul before the LORD
Vs: 16 - Hannah was a woman full of grief and had a complaint
Vs: 17 - The man of God told Hannah to go in peace and the LORD grant your petition.

Then a remarkable thing is recorded in the next verse (18).  And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight.  So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

Having encouragement from the man of God that the LORD would answer her petition her outlook changed completely.  Her problem was not gone, but her faith had been restored.  Her burden was just as real, but someone else was now bearing it.  This resulted in her going her way, eating (appetite restored), and her countenance being no more sad.

This is the honor of Hannah!  She teaches us what it means to cast all our care upon him.  We learn from her example what it looks like when we successfully take our burden to the LORD and leave it there.

Is your heart heavy today?  Pour out your heart before Him.  Give the burden, every last ounce of it, to Him.  He is able!