Overcoming Challenges amidst difficulties 1 Samuel 1:1-20
Lessons that we learn from the story of Hannah and Peninnah
#𝟏- 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐀𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐞 - 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐭
To accept things as they are means to let go of your expectations of how things should be. Instead, allow things to be what they are. It means to say to yourself, “It is what it is, and there is nothing I can do to change the current situation but to pray that God changes the situation
One character that Hannah portrays it’s her wisdom to accept her condition and find a permanent solution for it. Despite Peninnah hurling insults on her, she did not complain, she did not start the so called ‘Blaming game’. She accepted her situation and seek God for a solution
Why Is Acceptance So Important?
There are three main reasons why it is good to accept things as they are.
a) First, trying to change reality is a battle you’re guaranteed to lose. It leads to feelings of bitterness, anger, and sadness.
b) Second, acceptance allows you to recognize and face the actual problem. This can allow for problem-solving. For example, if you’re unhappy in your career, it’s impossible to make any changes before you face the reality of your current situation. Denying reality prevents you from problem-solving and may lead to more serious consequences — in this example, further years of career dissatisfaction..
c) Third, accepting things as they are leads us toward a sense of peace and calm. It is normal to feel angry, sad, or disappointed when you first acknowledge that you have no control over a difficult situation. However, acceptance will help you eventually feel lighter — as if a burden has been removed.
#2 - Hannah does not react negatively when provoked.
Hannah was one of Elkanah’s wives. Now, in those days, a woman’s worth was determined by the number of male children she had. If a woman had no children, she would be seen as a failure. Hannah was barren while Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah was fertile. Every year when they went to Shiloh to worship the Lord and offer the sacrifice, Peninnah would provoke Hannah so badly that she would cry and not eat (1 Sam 1:7).
One of the admirable qualities in Hannah is that in spite of all the repeated ridicule and provocation from Peninnah, she does not react in anger. Instead, she cries out to the Lord in prayer.
In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the Lord weeping bitterly.(1 Sam 1:10, NIV)
Hannah understood that the only one who can comfort her and provide relief is God and she depended on Him completely.
Although the default human reaction when triggered is to respond negatively we must learn to put our faith in the God who will fight for us.
#3 - Hannah refused to be weighed down by the smitten words from Peninnah
Another profound lesson learnt from Hannah was, Hannah refused to be weighed down by the discouraging words from Peninnah. We read from the story that most times Peninnah mocked Hannah and made fun of her, but Hannah refused to be weighed down by those negative words, she kept her focus on God and not on the disappointments from people that were supposed to encourage her. This is a lesson to learn that, in any situation we find ourselves, we should never allow naysayers or discouragers to take our eyes off the cross. We must learn to move on and focus on God in spite of the people that mock us.
#4 - Do not reveal your next moves or action prematurely before they happen, it will fail terribly
One major character of God is that He works in secret and silence. You plant a seed you never see it grow because God makes it grow with all the silence and peace.
Did you know that 95% of the time when you tell people your goals you do not achieve them? Crazy right?!
Despite of all that Hannah was going through she chose to remain silent and pray and act in silence. She did not go everywhere screaming that she is going to pray or revealed her next course of action. Even after Elkanah asked her why she was grieving she decided to remain silent and continue with her prayers. 1 Samuel 1:8 - Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
#5 - Love your Enemies
In Matthew chapter 5, Christ says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
In everyone’s life, its quite impossible, impractical and some sought of a joke to love an enemy bearing in mind the insults, abuses and mocking that comes from them. Our pride does not allow us. If then we have to obey the command of Jesus, then we ought to love our enemies.
We see from the scripture that Peninnah, Hannah’s adversary kept mocking and provoking her because she could not conceive. The words of Peninnah made Hannah sorrowful and bitter and therefore decided to bestow her prayers before God. Despite all the insults hurled at her, she didn’t say a word, she went on with her business and challenge her situation by submitting to God. Enemies are in our life with a reason and purpose and their mission is actually the shortest in our life.
a) Enemies are meant to push us to our destiny and where God wants us to be. We see similar events in the life of David, Joseph, the Israelites when chased by Pharaoh, Samson strength which was as a result of the enemy, Jesus,
b) Enemies Show Our Approval Before God
c) Enemies Sharpen Our Skills
d) Enemies Tell Us What We Need to Hear
#6 - Focus on praying for your goals and not calling for God’s wrath upon your enemies
Hannah gave God praise: Another lesson learnt on Hannah’s story was that Hannah praised in pain. It is easy to praise God when everything is going on well and rosy with us, this was not so with Hannah, it was said that Hannah wiped her tears after groaning and gave God praise one particular day and that was the day her prayers were answered. And God gave her Samuel.
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:17)
Christians spent a lot of time in their prayers rebuking and destroying the works of the enemies in their life and forget to Praise and worship God in their prayers. Worshipping and praising God is enough to remove all obstacles in your life. Hannah did not focus to destroy Peninnah in her prayers, but she chose peace and focus in praising God and making a covenant with him
#7 - Speak Victory Despite Opposition
Hannah was taunted initially for being barren by Elkanah’s second wife Peninnah for many years (1 Samuel 1:6-7). While Hannah wept and was distraught by this ongoing ridicule, she did not stop praying and seeking the Lord. Although her circumstances were overwhelming and she could have easily lost hope, she resolved to be victorious in Christ Jesus (1 Samuel 2:1b).
When we face difficult seasons or relationships that seem unbearable or hopeless, let us be encouraged by Hannah’s commitment to trusting God. Speak life and victory over our circumstances, spirit, and future. When we are distracted by opposition, negativity, or self -doubt that will come, we can resolve to seek God’s word for renewed hope and walk in the victory that is in Christ Jesus.
Walking in victory does not mean that our challenges will instantaneously disappear, but it does mean that we have decided to not have them consume us. Begin to walk in victory each day and let God guide you through seasons of opposition and strife.
#9 - Hannah gives the Lord what matters most to her.
And she made a vow saying ‘Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (1 Sam 1:11, NIV)
Hannah vows to the Lord that if He gave her a son, she would dedicate him back to the Lord and keep the Nazirite vow. According to Numbers 6, a man dedicated to the Lord as a Nazirite must abstain from fermented drink, not cut their hair, and not go near a dead body.
After Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to Samuel, she remembered her vow and offered Samuel to the Lord. I find this remarkable considering she had waited so long for a son.
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IT doesn’t matter the Peninah before you, that obstacle that is ahead of you, that barrenness you are facing, financial barrenness, health bareness, Ezekiel 21:27-29 - I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.
