1 Samuel 1:11 (p. 185) October 6, 2013
Introduction:
What is the most painful thing God has told you to accept, or deal with?
Something which you cannot fix or make go away?
Something you will have to deal with on a regular basis and it might never change.
In the new testament there are two different words used to describe patience...both are used by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians...The Apostle is praying for these Christians to not only know God’s will but also they would be filled with discernment about how they should apply God’s will to their lives...so they could be fruitful for the Kingdom...He prays for God to strengthen them with His power...and then he mentions the two types of patience that would be needed for this to happen:
“Hypomone” literally to “remain under” or “abide under.” Under what? Difficult circumstances. This is something you cannot avoid or escape.
And the 2nd word “Makrothumia” made up of 2 compounds “Long” and “Wrath.” Longsuffering is the best translation, or as the NIV does “Endurance”. What’s the difference? One has to do with faithfulness...Hangin’ in there...the other your attitude while it’s happening.
Neither are easy...both are essential for us to become like Jesus. Both hang their hats on “trusting God and His plan.”
[I’ll give you a good example in my life...When I was 10 years old I was burned...badly! 3rd degree burns over 45 – 50% of my body. I spilled rubbing alcohol on myself and when I tried to light a little lamp from a chemistry set my clothes caught fire...It was long before stop, drop and roll...I ran and screamed...My dad saved my life by extinguishing the flames with his own hands and arms...I spent 2 ½ months in St. Joe hospital’s burn unit...They did skin graft surgery...but the scarring was extensive...even though it’s faded some with age...it’s still visible...I was in 5th grade when it happened...it was difficult to go back to school with the scars...everywhere I went someone would ask..what happened to your face...After a while I started responding “What happened to yours?” I used to pray for God to take away the scars...beg him to remove them...He never did...I believe his plan was to teach me both “hypomone” patience in difficult circumstances...and also “makrothumia...endurance for the long haul...I’m 53 and know without a doubt that I would not be the person I am today without the scars...I’m not sure when I started being grateful for them, but eventually I reached a place where I wouldn’t give them back because they speak of God’s work in my life...and they make me view scarred people with a heart that understands.]
Hannah’s heart was scarred...Listen:
1 SAMUEL 1:1-8 (p 185)
Here’s the question for each of us...
I. HOW DO WE DEAL WITH SOMETHING THE LORD HAS CLOSED?
Elkanah had 2 wives...that in itself is absolutely crazy...but regardless Peninnah had children...And in those days children marked the sign of approval from God...it’s why families existed...to be fruitful...to multiply..to provide helpers...Families were the bond that held society together.
V6 says...”The Lord had closed Hannah’s womb.” She has no children...In this society she would be viewed as incomplete...broken...Her self worth and self image would be devastated.
And to make matters worse...Peninnah, her rival made sure she knew how worthless she was...She would provoke Hannah...”where are your sons...O that’s right you have none.”
And even though Elkanah loved her...gave her double portions...he probably shouldn’t have asked...”Hannah, Don’t I mean more to you than children?”
Because he probably wouldn’t have liked the answer.
How long did this dysfunctional situation last? Year after year...
How do we cope with something that’s painful year after year? How do we deal with something that God says no to?
Hannah does two things: She prays and she worships.
Hannah didn’t stop going to the house of the Lord...she continued to worship...to believe...to give...even though she is downhearted...she is still seeking God.
And if I asked each of you who believe...when did you seek God the most earnestly? The answer would be the same as mine...when I hurt the most deeply..It’s not the only time I seek Him...but in my weakness and in my pain...my dependence upon His grace is absolutely essential...And something beautiful happens in this place if we trust...REAL WORSHIP.
The Apostle Paul had an ongoing painful trial in his life...He refers to it as a “Thorn in his flesh”...No one knows what it is but the literal transition is “A STAKE DRIVEN INTO MY BODY....” He writes about this in context to the time he was allowed to see heaven...view paradise...An amazing revelation.
Listen:
2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10 (p 808)
Sometimes God doesn’t take away the scars...Sometimes God says “No, you are going to keep the thorn.”
Why, Because God’s power is made perfect in weakness...His grace is sufficient...This world doesn’t need to see how bright I am, or cute, or smart or rich...This world needs to see how the gospel can change Pot heads into Preachers and Arrogant Pharisees into compassionate missionaries.
Scars and thorns become witnesses for His glory. You learn a lot more about people when you tell them “NO” then when you tell them “yes”...No one likes to be told no...no one...even by God...but it takes prayer and patience to be worshipping Him even through the “NO.”
So how should we pray?
II. HONESTLY, EMOTIONALLY, PRIVATELY
No I’m not saying you shouldn’t pray publically...It’s awesome to pray publically..but you will pray more genuinely publically if you’re honest with God privately.
Listen to Hannah’s prayer...
1 SAMUEL 1:9-18 (p 185)
Hannah’s honest emotion...Her genuine pain pours out of her brokenness...Deep anquish...She wept bitterly...She prays privately, in her heart...but with such extreme emotion Eli, the Priest thinks she’s been hittin’ the Mad Dog 20/20...He even asks “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
Hannah says, “I’m not drunk I’m praying out of anguish and grief...
Scripturally God answers prayers in 3 ways...”YES” immediate just as I asked (not the norm in my life..I’m not sure about yours) NO...I’m not going to give you something that will hurt you.
[When my son Tyler was about 8 or 9 he came to me and asked me to buy him a Machete”...I asked why? He said, “to cut things”...I did not give him a machete...Ironically 10 years later the U.S. Government gave him a 40 cal Beretta, a jungle knife, an M14 rifle, and they put him behind a 50 caliber machine gun in a Humvee...]
But many times the hardest answer from God is “WAIT.”
I know two things without a doubt...1) There is a God on His throne in Heaven and
2) I AIN’T HIM!!!
1 SAMUEL 1:17-20 (p 185)
Hannah has prayed...she’s worshipped...she made a vow...and shared her grief with someone who cared...(That’s pretty important too)
Her face is no longer downcast...no answers yet...Just honestly before God...They go home...life goes back to normal...Elkanah makes love to his wife...”And the Lord remembered her...”So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant.”
Those 4 words “the course of time”...How long? I don’t have any idea...But it was that “wait” for an answer period.
At the end of my “wait for it period” God said no...but instead of removing my scars from the outside...He changed my submission to His will on the inside...He told the Apostle Paul “NO” even after pleading 3 times, but taught him about grace, power and weakness.
Hannah got a yes to her vow...I’ve met many women who hate this chapter because they received a ”no” and Mother’s Day is one of the hardest days of the year...and the pain is still there...year after year.
In the month I’ve been here at Gardenside Christian Church I’ve come to love and appreciate this congregation...how loving, kind and generous you truly are...I’ve also come to appreciate the staff...their commitment, their hard work...their love for Christ and this body of believers...
Bobby and Lori Cairell serve as Associate Minister and Office Manager...I’ve come to love and appreciate them both..so when I looked at my calendar and saw this Sunday was when I was preaching on Hannah’s vow...I asked Lori to do one of the most difficult things ever...this will be a first and truly honest, emotional and prayeful testimony...I asked Lori to write her “story” for me...
Here it is:
Most girls spend their young lives dreaming of how wonderful it will be to get married and have babies. I was that girl! I would daydream about what it would be like to have a husband, be a wife and more importantly – BE A MOMMY! So, I married the man of my dreams (Bobby ) and not too long after that, maybe just 6 months, we decided – Hey, let’s see what happens. We both wanted children and why wait! No one ever prepares you for what to do or feel when it doesn’t happen. A woman’s identity is found in being a mother.
Months go by and years go by and still, no baby. At first I thought, it’s just not the right time. We are young. We have plenty of time! But, as friends began to get pregnant and have babies I began to feel more and more out of place. With every friend’s baby shower, every birth of a child, every moment that I’d see a stranger who was pregnant or pushing their baby in a stroller, I felt more and more empty and alone. Every time we were with friends when the men and women would separate, all that the ladies would talk about was their children and I would sit silent and usually cry myself to sleep at home.
However, the deepest pain came from not being able to give the gift of fatherhood to my husband. Someone who I knew would make an amazing father. And, although he was completely supportive, there were times I felt like I was holding him back from a full life as a daddy. In the darkest times I even contemplated letting him go because I knew his deep desire to be a Father. He always reassured me his love did not depend on me being able to make him a father. But the guilt was unbearable and completely consuming me. I felt like a complete failure as a woman and wife. My life was empty.
I pleaded with God...Bargained with Him...Begged Him to please answer my only prayer. I promised Him that I would raise my child to be sold out to Him. Still, I felt God remained completely silent. With every Mother’s Day came deep pain and longing for a child. I secretly faced this pain and became more isolated and alone. I could not even share this pain with my husband. Behind the smile was a hurting woman who was hiding her pain. I felt abandoned by God. I was a good person! I did things right! I was a good Christian! Why was God doing this to me? Why was He withholding my deepest desire? He knew my heart! There were many times I hated Him for keeping this from me.
9 years...9 years went by. Then friends recommended a fertility clinic in Cincinnati. I had decided this is it...Last try...Final effort. I couldn’t take anymore disappointment. Not another negative pregnancy test. One final try.
As we had our consultation I felt different. Almost as if God was prodding me to give this to Him completely. I remember as we waited for the results that my prayer changed.
I prayed: “God, I completely surrender this to you. Completely. You know my heart and my deepest desire to be a mommy. So, I trust in you and your will for my life, no matter what the outcome, I trust you.”
I finally let go, gave it completely to God and I think that was when I felt at peace with everything. I knew He was going to provide for me. He was going to provide a miracle.
I tell Landon all the time, “You are my miracle baby,” and that is what he is. A miraculous gift from God who healed my deepest hurt and pain and showed me that when I finally gave my pain and hurt and deepest desires to Him He made beauty from ashes. Praise God!
Our God is still a God of miracles...Sometimes it’s when He says “yes” to the greatest pain of our heart...and sometimes it’s when He uses that greatest pain to help others discover His sufficient grace and power.
Maybe it’s at that place where we finally surrender...The ALL IN place of trust and obedience...The place where Abraham raised the knife...The place where Joseph waits in Prison...The place where Joshua surrenders His family. The place where Ruth & Naomi find a redeemer...
The Place Where the Vow is Kept...
1 SAMUEL 1:24-28 (p 186)
Samuel...my father’s name...my brother’s name...it sounds like the Hebrew expression “Heard by God.”
[Hebrews 11:6 is an amazing scripture...essential to our relationship with God...essential for anyone to have a genuine relationship with Jesus...It says “Without faith it is impossible to please God, (why?) because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
Impossible...not hard...not difficult...but it can’t happen!!! Faith is an action word...it’s responding to God, answering His call, surrendering to His will...Trusting so much you obey...And when you do He honors that obedience...The minute you step toward Him...He rewards that action...Not always by giving you or me what we want...but rewards that are even better...and always for His glory...When we seek His presence He promises...You’ll find me...when you draw near to me...I will draw near to you. That’s what helps us trust Him when He hears us and answers: “YES, NO...AND WAIT”
