You remember the story of Hanna (from 1 Samuel) who was unable to bear children and she shared her husband with a woman who ridiculed her (because she was barren). Her loving husband could not solve her problems and even the High Priest (Eli) misunderstood her motives. But instead of retaliating or giving up hope, Hanna prayed. She brought her problem honestly before God.
It's difficult to pray in faith when we feel so ineffective but prayer opens the way for God to work (as Hanna discovered).
1 Samuel 1:14-18 "And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Jehovah. Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thy handmaid find favor in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat; and her countenance was no more sad."
In the first part of Hanna's story she had been discouraged to the point of being physically sick and unable to eat. Here she returns home well and happy. The change in her attitude may be attributed to three factors we could well take notice of:
1. She honestly prayed to God about her problem.
2. She received encouragement from Eli.
3. She resolved to leave the problem with God.
This is the antidote for discouragement; tell God how you really feel and leave your problems with him.
1 Samuel 1:19- 20 "...And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Jehovah, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her. And it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Jehovah."
One other thing to take note on about Hanna's story is we should not be like the priest, Eli, who made a snap judgment before he knew all the facts. We need to remember it's easy to misunderstand motives and actions when someone is facing tremendous burdens. Before we make a judgment call we need to find out what a person may be going through. I've been guilty of being too judgmental of another person when I didn't know all they were facing and it's a painful thing to realize you've added to their burdens.
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We should also think about Paul's faith when he was in prison and pinned these courageous words:
Philippians 1:12-14 "...Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel; so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest; and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear."
Being imprisoned would cause many people to become bitter or to give up, but Paul saw it as one more opportunity to spread the Good News of Christ. Paul realized that his current circumstances weren't as important as what he did with them. Turning a bad situation into a good one, he reached out to the Romans soldiers and encouraged those Christians who were afraid of persecution.
We may not be in prison, but we still have plenty of opportunities to be discouraged - times of indecision, financial burdens, family conflicts, church conflicts, the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a job. How we act in such situations reflects what we honestly believe. Like Paul, we should look for opportunities to demonstrate our faith even in bad
situations. Whether or not the situation improves, our faith will grow stronger.
Remember, Christ showed true humility when He lay aside His rights and privileges as God to become human. He poured out His life to pay the penalty we deserve. Laying aside self-interest is essential to all our relationships. A believer can and should have profound contentment, serenity, and peace no matter what is happening in their life. This joy (peace that passes understanding) comes from knowing Christ personally and from depending on His strength rather than our own.
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The Trials and Triumphs of Faith
by Robert Boyd (1875)
A minister tells us that he was spending several days in one of our western cities. He put up at a hotel, and one morning he heard, while up in his room, the most wonderful whistling he had ever listened to. It seemed like the note of a bird, but he thought it could not be that, for there was a perfectly regular tune kept up with much power. Though he was in the third story, yet the music came gushing up in its sweet melody, and seemed to fill the whole house. He ran downstairs to get a sight of the wonderful performer, looking every man that he met in the face.
At last, he asked the clerk who it was that had such amazing power as a whistler. Laughing at his simplicity he pointed him to a canary bird that had been trained to perform in this way, and was valued at $150.
"How was that bird trained to sing this way?" the gentleman inquired. In reply the clerk told him that during the training process the bird was nearly starved and shut up in a room that was almost dark. While it is under this severe discipline, and its attention undivided, a bird organ is made to play this one tune over and over again, for days. Hearing nothing else, and taught by his troubles, the poor little bird takes up the tune which he performs so perfectly.
Thus it is that God permits his people to be afflicted that they may learn the heavenly song. He shuts them up in the dark room of sorrow, away from the tempting sights and sounds of the world, that they may, without distraction, listen to his voice and learn to sing the higher melodies of glory. Blessed are those who patiently wait the Lord's good time to work out their deliverance. When the song of Grace is fully learned, he brings them into a large place, sets their feet upon a rock, and others learn from them the sweet song of redeeming love.
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