Hello…long time no see.
I want to encourage you with this simple word…it’s time for you to pray. Breakthrough will not come until you do.
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If you’ve known me for awhile, Hannah’s story has always resonated with me and I hope it will mean something to you before you leave today.
Scripture
As you read, I pray that the Holy Spirit gives you divine insight.
“He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord.
Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.
Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year.
Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.
Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.
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.”
As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.
Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard.
Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
“Not so, my Lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.
Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.”
Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.””
1 Samuel 1:2-20 NIV
Let’s Break It Down
For context, Hannah was the prophet Samuel’s mother. In a day where a woman’s ability to bear children spoke to their inherent value, Hannah was barren. Not only was she barren, her sister wife, Penninah had many children and provoked her to no end. Peninnah made sure that Hannah was constantly reminded of what she lacked.
Year after year nothing in Hannah’s situation changed or improved.
Much like you and I, Hannah was BLESSED. She had a husband who loved her dearly and she lived comfortably as the favored wife, BUT something was still missing. Her husband could not satisfy the longing in her soul to have children. She needed breakthrough.
She needed the barrier or block preventing her from seeing her desires fulfilled broken.
Have you ever been there? Have you ever needed breakthrough?
Maybe there’s a situation that provokes, torments, and saddens you. Your loved ones cannot help you overcome it. Then to add insult to injury when you look around you everyone seems to have what you long for. Andddd your situation has been “barren” for years. It’s hard, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
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So, what has been provoking/triggering you lately?
Has it drawn you to the only One who can help you?
God in His sovereignty used Penninah’s taunting to PROVOKE Hannah out of her passivity. The irritation drew Hannah to the Lord.
I urge you to allow the provocation in your life to draw you to the feet of Jesus. Pray! The longing you feel may have been strategically placed by the Father. Passive hope is not the answer in this season. Stop ignoring whatever it is and cry out!
There was a lot tied to Hannah birthing her son, Samuel. Samuel anointed David from whom’s line came Jesus. So seeing her longing fulfilled was NECESSARY for not only herself but for the world! Hannah’s cry to the Lord broke something and your cry will do the same.
I firmly believe God still uses provocation to lead His people into promise.
Takeaway
There’s so much more I could say on this passage, but I’ll leave it here. If something has been bothering you…pray and don’t stop until something changes.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:1
Hugs,
Ayanna