I Wanna Be Like Hannah

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of going back to my home church and going to Sunday School there.  I haven't been able to go for a while, so it was such a fun time to be with old friends...and several new ones!!  This particular Sunday's lesson was on Hannah, her struggle with having a child, and her vow to the Lord.  This lesson is one that's near to my heart, because I have several friends who grieve just like Hannah did over not being able to bear a child (yet).  And I have friends who....Praise the Lord.....God has answered their prayers and they are now expecting a child, even after being told it was not likely or even possible.  I cannot say that I have been there.  I cannot say "I know how you feel".  Because I don't.  And I won't even pretend to because I simply cannot even fathom the pain these women, these couples, feel in their disappointment month-to-month.  But I am so thankful that God, in His divine providence and as He has done for so many situations that we face in today's world, provided someone they CAN identify with.  Sweet Hannah.  

In this lesson, though, God spoke to my heart about a different matter.  One that seems to affect my life daily.  Worry.  I think I have mentioned before that I am just one big worrywart.  And I have also mentioned pretty much every post that I am stressed about us selling our house.  We are tired and just want to feel settled.  We're not just wanting to sell our house, we have to sell our house because of the hubby's job change.  So, here I go again, worrying.  But, God showed me something in this lesson that I had never really seen before...or maybe I had and He just knew I needed a big reminder! :) 

You know Hannah was weeping and praying at the tabernacle.  So much so that Eli though she was drunk.  Haven't we all been there at some point?  When we are so burdened about something we just want to cry out to the Lord...and we do.....cry, wail, scream whatever.  I have.  Well, Hannah wept in anguish and "bitterness of soul" as she prayed to the Lord, and then she made her vow to Him, that if He would grant her a male child, she would give the child back to Him (and she did!!).  She just laid it all out, told the Lord everything she was feeling.  Samuel Chapter One ends like this (NKJV):

Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your

petition which you have asked of Him."  And she said, "Let your maidservant 

find favor in your sight."  So, the woman went her way and ate, and her face

was no longer sad.

For some reason, that had never hit home with me before.  But y'all, her face was no longer sad.  That day at the tabernacle, she poured her heart out and totally turned the situation over to God.  Even though her situation had not changed at that point, she still had turned it over completely to God and was burdened no more.  Oh, how I desire to do that.  So today, I'm going to be like Hannah.  I'm turning this whole house deal over to God.  He knows what will happen.  I'm letting it go.  And I know that old worrywart is gonna rear it's ugly head again (no pun intended...ha!) and when it does, I'm going to turn right back to 1st Samuel and remind myself of Hannah's faithfulness one more time.  

God is so good, isn't He?  I am still singing that song.........