Lately, I have felt a deeper than usual ache regarding two unanswered prayers. Even though our world is loud with chaos, these two longings in my heart have not quieted. In fact, the turmoil has made those dear to my heart longings even louder. Maybe you can relate.
This Is Where Hannah’s Story Comes In…
In the Old Testament, Hannah is remembered for struggling with unanswered prayer. She was infertile. In ancient times, a woman’s self worth was tied to her ability to bear children. It is not hard to imagine that Hannah’s first words every morning were prayers begging God to help her become pregnant.
Unfortunately, Hannah lacked encouragement or support within her home. Here is what she was up against. First, her husband Elkanah minimized her despair:
Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me. Isn’t that better than having ten sons? -1 Samuel 1:8 NLT
There is an indication that Elkanah showed Hannah his love in other ways, but he did not truly see her. He was oblivious to her daily mental anguish and the heartbreaking questions Hannah carried but could not answer.
“Why hasn’t God blessed me?”
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Why her, but not me?”
Then there was Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife. God did not want ancient men to have multiple wives because the relational dynamics would not produce healthy relationships. Here is a clear example. Hannah could not have children, but Peninnah could. Worse yet, Peninnah was a mean-spirited fertile Myrtle. She treated Hannah horribly.
Year after year it was the same. Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. -1 Samuel 1:7 NLT
It was not enough that Hannah wondered what was wrong with her because she was not blessed with children. Peninnah’s insults wrecked Hannah’s emotional and mental health.
How Did Hannah Move from Bitter to Better? Two Lessons We Learn from Her:
1. The path to waiting well must travel through honest prayers instead of hiding behind polite smiles.
Hannah struggled for years. One day Hannah traveled to the temple to pray. But she did not show up quietly.
Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD.
-1 Samuel 1:10 NLT
Hannah was real, and she was not worried about making a scene. Crying bitterly means she was angry at God as she prayed. Hannah watched God give others what she desperately wanted. Those tears likely included the “It’s not fair!” prayer of a woman who did not understand why God had not answered.
Far too many of us are uncomfortable or unwilling to allow ourselves to bring our anger to God. We worry that our anger or confusion means that we do not trust God. That is not true. If we want an authentic faith, we must come to God in a real and honest way.
Bringing our hurt to God means that we invite Him into our confusion and anger. Friends, this is the path to holding on and healing during our waiting season. Minimizing our pain or rushing to slap on a spiritual platitude does not bring deep healing. Only closeness to God does. Best of all, God comes closest when we are struggling the most.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
-Psalm 34:18 NLT
SIDE NOTE: Can we do a better job learning how to sit with a Christian sister who is hurting? We are too quick to tell someone, “You’ve got to just trust God.” Friends, those spiritual bandaids do not work on open wounds or grief. Not rushing people out of their anger or confusion is an act of trusting God.
What can you do? Hold your friend’s hand. Let them have messy feelings or express their doubts. Pray silently as they cry or rage at God. He can handle their anger. You can learn how to handle it too.
When we rush someone past their hurt and pain, we are not giving God space to step into their pain with His presence.
2. We move from bitter in waiting to better in waiting when we surrender the outcome to God.
Hannah turns her bitter moment into a better moment by asking God for what she wanted and surrendering to Him in advance.
In 1 Samuel 1:10, Hannah asks God for what she wants. At the same time, she surrenders what she asks for even before she knows if she will receive it. Hannah does not ask for a miracle for her sake, but for God’s good and His glory.
Spoiler alert. Hannah received the desired answer to her prayer. But remember, when she prayed, Hannah did not know how or when God would answer. She made her request and released the rest to His will and His timing. Once she surrendered, Hannah was able to eat, and the anguished, angry pit in her spirit finally released.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: In your waiting season, what is God calling you to surrender today?
Surrender is the key to waiting well, friends. We talk about surrender a lot here in Happy Monday, and many of you are familiar with my favorite surrender prayer from my Stronger Than Stress Bible study: God, I can’t. But You can. I will let You. Amen.
This is the prayer I keep coming back to in my waiting season. I have learned that this is the prayer that helps me live better, not bitter, as I wait. Deep in my heart I know that regardless of how or when God answers my prayer, I trust His love and His heart for me.
As the swirl of uncertainty spins, I have been speaking the following to the ache in my spirit:
God has withheld no good thing from me because His love and grace are always with me. God is enough and will be more than enough for this moment and whatever is to come. (adapted from Psalm 84:11)
If you are in a waiting season, I pray that those words encourage your heart today.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU: If you are in a waiting season, what has been hard for you? Where do you relate to Hannah’s story? What do you need to surrender? Hit reply and share your story with me.
