Mrs Janelle Durham

Pastor's Wife

Cannon Mountain Baptist Church

Pickens, SC

Let go and LET GOD!

Hannah in the Bible is a VERY special account to me personally as I am sure it is to many women.  So today, I just want to take a few minutes to bask in the life and testimony of a woman who like us face trials and problems. Yet in her deepest darkest moments of her life she finds hope and peace at the feet of THE ONE who can change her circumstances from weeping to joy.  From hopelessness to hope.  From barreness to full. 

In I Sam. 1 we see that Hannah had a problem.  She was barren.  She had no children.  In verse 5 of this chapter we see why.  "But the LORD shut up her womb."  Even in the midst of Hannah's problem God was in control.  HE shut up her womb.  HE allowed Hannah to endure this trouble. It wasn't because HE didn't love her but because HE did love her.  Could it be that God wanted to get Hannah to the point of needing HIM above all else?  I don't know.. But, I do know that sometimes God allows problems to enter our lives to mold us and make us more like HIM and to make us realize how much we  need HIM.  So Hannah had a problem.  Not only was she barren, but, no doubt, Hannah felt lonely and deserted.  Think with me for a moment.  Let's go back  to Hannah's day.  To be barren was looked down upon. It was also a  reproach upon women. I can imagine there were  women who talked behind Hannah's back wondering what kind of "sin" Hannah had in her heart that had caused her to be barren. Maybe Hannah was the talk of the town between the women.   I am sure there were women who rejected her because of this problem.  It was a lonely time for Hannah.  While everyone else was enjoying their children, Hannah had none to enjoy. While the mothers held their little ones by the hand, Hannah could not. While young women were excited to welcome their babies into the world, Hannah's womb was empty.  Can you imagine the pain, the grief and the loneliness she must have felt on a daily basis?  Can I ask you today...What problem has you burdened down and lonely? It maybe barreness like Hannah.  Or it maybe another problem in your life. Problems are sure to bring us down.  And this was exactly what was happeneing to Hannah.  

Not only do I see her problem.  But, Hannah also had a provoker.  Not only is she dealing with the grief of this problem.  She now has a provoker. The Bible says in verse 6 that it is "her adversary". Who is the person?  Many believe it was Penninah the other wife.  Every year Penninah provoked Hannah because Penninah had children and Hannah did not.  The word provoke means to make angry, and to offend.  I am sure that Penninah was "struting her stuff" and all her children infront of Hannah, pointing her fingers at her and saying ugly things to her.  I am sure that Penninah was saying things like, "Look at the children Elkanah and I have together.  He loves me more than he loves you."  I am sure that Penninah rubbed it in real good how "blessed" she was.  Can you imgaine the hurt?  The grief this causd Hannah?  But, ladies we too have a adversary. The Bible tells us we have an adversary and it's satan.  I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"   Be careful!  Be watchful!  Our adversary is seeking whom he may devour.   He enjoys whispering lies to us to get us to doubt God and question HIS working in our lives.  The devil enjoys getting us to doubt God's love for us.  Our adversary will poke and prod us to get us angry, and bitter. And ladies, that's his goal-to devour us and most of the time it happens when problems enter our lives.  Penninah, the adversary added more grief to Hannah.  Just a thought here.  Am I a Penninah?  Do I provoke others unto love or unto anger/grief?  May we be women who provoke one another unto love and good works.      Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."

So Hannah's life is in array.  She is burdened down with this problem.  And, then she has a provoker.  She is grieved, angry and the Bible says she is also "in bitterness of soul."  Hannah is in a dark place in her life.  Have you ever been there?  A place of despair.  A place of discouragement.  It seems that the harder you try the deeper into the pit you sink.  This is the place I am sure Hannah was in.  But, something changed in the later part of verse 10.  Hannah made a choice.  And, it's the key to everthing!  

Hannah could have chose to resent God because of her problem.  She could have given up all hope.  She could have chosen to live her life miserable and

bitter.  But, she didn't.  So what did Hannah do?

She prayed!  In the midst of her problem she realized that more than anything she needed to get to the Lord.  She threw her hands up and said, "I can't do this on my own."  Ladies, she prayed!!  She didn't go run to her BFF.  She didn't even go run to her husband.  She knew that they couldn't help her or understand.  She ran to the Lord.  What a great lesson Hannah gives us..a reminder of what to do when problems come into our life.  There are some truths that I find in her prayer.  Let's take a look at them and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts.  When Hannah prayed in verse 11, I see that she was selfless.  She was humble.  Several times she refers to herself as a "handmaid"-a servant.  The only way we can come before the Lord in prayer is to be humble and the ONLY reason we can come before the throne of grace is all because of HIM. It's nothing that I have done but it's all because of The Son.  Hannah was selfless in her prayer.  I see also her prayer was specific.  She asked the Lord for a "man child". She wanted a boy...a son and so she asked the Lord for him.  What do you need? What is your hearts desire?  Ask him.  Let HIM know.  Sure HE already knows but, I do believe HE enjoys hearing HIS children ask HIM for things. Be specific in your prayers.  What is your need?  Tell the Lord.  What do you want to see God do?  Tell Him.  Ask for it.  I am thankful that if I ask anything according to HIS will, HE heareth me and HE will answer. I John 5:14-15 "And this is the confindence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." 

  I see that Hannah's prayer was submissive.  She asks for a son and then promises to give the child back to God.  This touches my heart.  Hannah could have been selfish and keep this blessing all to herself.  But, no, she promises that if God would bless her, she would give the child back to God for HIM to use all the days of his life. What a heart of submission and sacrifice. Ladies, what about us?  What are we willing to give up to receive HIS blessing?  Are we willing to give up our child?  Are we willing to give up self for the Savior?  Are we willing to give up that thing that is precious to us?  Her prayer was also stubborn.  What I

mean is that she continued praying.  Nothing was going to stop her from praying to God.  So many times we stop praying because God hasn't answered.  We get tired of praying.  Tired of waiting.  We want the answer to come NOW.  But, God answers in HIS time, not ours.  Keep praying.  Don't stop before the miracle! Keep praying for that wayward child! Keep praying for healing! Keep praying for the salvation of your loved ones!  Keep praying for that need to be met!  Whatever it may be....don't stop praying!  Continue praying! Pray without ceasing!  

Then lastly in her prayer I see that Hannah prayed in secret and was Spirit-filled.  In verse 13-14 Hannah was praying in secret.  She wasn't praying out loud for all to hear.  Only her lips were moving and because of this Eli thought she was drunk! There was something different that had come across Hannah while she was praying that even Eli the priest had no idea what was going on.  Just as we are to be humble before God in prayer, praying in the Spirit is a key as well.  There are times in my life when I just didn't know what to pray.  All I could do is moan and cry.  I am so thankful that  in those times The Spirit helpeth me by interceeding on my behalf.  Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit aslo helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."  What is your burden today?  Give it to The One who can help you.  You may not know what to pray, how to pray....allow the Holy Spirit interceed on your behalf to The Father.  

What an amazing prayer Hannah prayed.  I am often reminded of her prayer whenever I am burdened down and it seems everything is against me.  Prayer is the key to everything!  

In her prayer, Hannah also poured out.  The Bible says in verse 15 that she "poured out her soul before the Lord."  She gave the Lord everything.  She was getting to the place where the Lord wanted her.  What was that place?  I believe it was the place of surrender.  It was a place of total dependence on HIM.  I believe it was a place where God wanted her...all of her.  Hannah emptied herself before the Lord.  And, when she gave in to the LORD, HE was then able to

move and work in and through her life.  She decreased so HE could increase. Sadly, this is a place where only a few go.  And, Hannah gives us a beautiful picture of what it takes to go further and deeper with the Lord.  When Hannah began to empty herself, then HE was able to fill her.  Not only spiritually, but physically.  What a beautiful testimony and what a beautiful picture of the grace, love and mercy of the Lord.  She was filled with joy, peace, grace, strength and even filled with praise and worship in verse 18-19.  And, what is amazing about this is that her prayer wasn't even answered yet.  How could she smile, have joy and even worship the Lord even with an empty womb?  Because of her secret time with HIM in the verses above.  She got to the place where God was. She gave it all over to HIM and she trusted that HE would take over and would answer in HIS time.  And HE did!!  The Lord remembered Hannah.  HE remembered her hurt and pain.  He remembered her desire to have a child.  HE remembered her prayer.  HE remembered her promise.  Hannah's womb was filled.  She conceived and gave birth to Samuel. And, HE will remember you.  

In 2004 the doctors told my husband and I that we couldn't have childen physically.  We were devestated.  For two weeks I was bitter, angry at God, jealous of others who were expecting etc. etc.  I had no joy, no peace, and no desire to worship the Lord.  I didn't even want to go to church.  But, I was the Pastor's wife! I had to be there and with a big smile. Right before the Holy Spirit intervened in my heart and life - I was so close to walking out of everything.  I was close to quitting on God.  I still get emotional talking about it because it is still so real.  I couldn't understand why God would tell us "no".  My husband and I were serving the Lord etc.  But, ladies trials to come to everyone. It doesn't matter how long you have been saved, what you do for the Lord. Problems come to us all.  I  will never forget the day when the Holy Spirit got a hold of my heart.  During one of our services at church,  the Holy Spirit began to move. HE then began to speak to my heart.  I knew what I needed to do.  So, at the altar of our church I cried out to God.  Through that time with HIM, I gave HIM my all.  I surrendered my life to HIM that day and said, I would do HIS will, go wherever HE wanted me to go and do whatever HE wanted me to do.  I got up from the altar with such a joy and peace in my heart.  A few more years passed with many

trials we still had to walk through, when finally we began to see what God had in mind.  HE began to birth another plan into our hearts.  HE had another direction for our family.   In 2009, HE birthed 3 handsome and wonderful boys into our hearts and home through the miracle of adoption.  Ladies, we may not understand all that God is doing in our hearts and lives, but just remember...HE has a perfect plan for you.  It may not be how you had planned it all to go, but when you line up with HIM everything falls into place and you will look back and say, "That's HIM!" I have learned that God doesn't want our trial and our problems as much as HE wants us.  What are you holding onto?  Give it all to HIM, and allow HIM to use your life for HIS honor and HIS glory.  You will just be amazed at what HE can accomplish through you.  Don't settle for anything less than HIS best!  Even if it hurts. Remember, HE has HIS best in mind for you.  Let go and LET GOD!