By Keith Chandler
Journey Christian Church
Desperation can be a unique gift God gives us so we can experience his power and deliverance. We want to experience God’s deliverance, but his deliverance comes after our desperation. God is drawn to desperation.
Being a mom often pushes you to your physical, mental, and emotional limits. There can be a lot of desperation in motherhood. Hannah longs to be a mom.
She’s married to Elkanah. “He had two wives. One was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.” I Samuel 1:2
Hannah finds herself in this difficult situation struggling with infertility. Statistically, about 1 in 6 couples will struggle with infertility. In Hannah’s day, childbearing was considered her primary reason for existence.
People would look at a woman who was barren and think God was punishing her for something she had done.
“So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. Year after year it was the same—Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.” I Samuel 1:6-7
Some of you know what it’s like to have a difficult person in your life. “Year after year it was the same” captures the frustration. Pain plus time equals desperation.
Hannah’s husband tries to make her feel better. “Why are you crying, Hannah? Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” I Samuel 1:8
If your wife is telling you how she’s feeling; don’t tell her you don’t need to feel that way. Then he assumes HE’S the solution! Hannah is desperately empty. What does she do? “Hannah got up and went to pray” I Samuel 1:9
She had enough of living this way so, she got up and prayed this desperate prayer. As a loving father, God hears our cry and responds. “Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.
She made this vow: ‘O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you.’”
It sounds like she’s negotiating with God. God’s not a negotiator. You don’t have anything he needs. This is surrender. She’s saying, “I will GIVE him to you. I’ve been asking and asking for a child for ME. Now I’m asking for a child for YOU.” (Big difference)
In her desperation she looks to God. He’s the God who keeps track of your tears in a bottle. He’s in control and he cares. Hannah prays for a son and eventually conceives.
She gives birth to a son and names him Samuel, which means heard by God. Every time she speaks his name; she recognizes God’s deliverance in her life and how God rescued her in that difficult, desperate situation.
BUT what if God had answered her request the first time? This story would have been completely different.
Her son would have grown up being used as a pawn between Hannah and Peninnah. Hannah would have been tempted to put more hope in her son than in God. Instead, she put her trust and hope in Him.
If you need to pray a desperate prayer, be reminded of his power, his strength, and his love that’s available to you.
Until next month,
Keith
7708 Van Dyke Rd, Odessa
813-920-0442
Services Sunday at 10:00
www.tampajourney.com