1 Samuel 1:11-16 (New King James Version)
11 Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” 12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” 15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
Hannah wanted her own baby so badly. Her husband, Elkanah loved her greatly. But his other wife, Peninnah would provoke her and make her miserable because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb. Year by year when Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, Peninnah would provoke her and Hannah would weep and not eat (vs. 7).
One year when she went up to the house of the Lord it was different. We read in 1 Samuel 1:11-16 that Hannah cried out to God and made a vow to Him. Hannah was a desperate woman. Even when Eli thought she was drunk, she stood her ground in desperation. In the end we read how God granted her petition and gave her a son, a son that she gave back to the Lord after he was weaned.
I don’t know about you, but I am desperate. I am desperate for God to move in my life, in my family, in my church. Sometimes I think that if God doesn’t move I will burst. Then I remember that His time is not my time and His ways are not my ways. So I try to be patient (not always very good) in my desperation, leaning hard on Him, listening for His voice for direction.
Are you a desperate woman, desperate for God? How is God working in your life through your desperation? Has there been a time in your life when you were desperate for God to do something and He answered your petition?
Let’s take a moment to thank Him for He is able to move in our desperation!
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Blessings,
Hey Donna, great post and picture. My desperation is continually for more of Him. It draws me closer and closer until I can feel His breath and hear the whisper of His heart. I just have to quiet my own heart in order to hear Him. Thanks for sharing. Blessings on your day.
ReplyDeleteBlessings Donna, What a great photo and verse to choose from the story of Hannah! I love how you powerfully wrote on other ways we can be desperate for God's move! I use to be desperate like Hannah to have a child of my own but through God's blessings I had the JOY of someone else's children to raise! So than I think on the questions that you ask on whether we are desperate for God? There is no question that daily since I left home in '95 that I was desperate for God and His work in me. I am blessed that the more I draw near, the greater my longing is to be filled with God's Presence and thoughts daily! I rely desperately on God's power in my life and need so much to cling to His every Word and breath. Thank you for this wonderful word and your visit to my WFW! From another woman like you impatient and desperate to see God MOVE but in His Time not mine... I wait!
ReplyDeletePeace and JOY,
Peggy
Donna,
ReplyDeleteLike you and many other people, I am desperate for more of God and for him to show up in my family and the church. I have also been desperate for his clear direction recently, well since last year really. The waiting has been so difficult. I feel like something will burst forth, like it is right over the mountain, but I can't seem to get over it just yet. Sometimes it has consumed me, but that is when we just have to trust him and not be so consumed by how and when it is going to happen. I want to know everything now, but I continue to wait!! This is so hard for me!!!
~Dremy
Thanks for the transference of this history to our daily desesperation in God. God is here with us each moment. What I learnt of my youngest daughter is that God is peace. His reflection will help us in our desperate being.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
ReplyDeleteThank God that we have a God who hears our prayers and answer them in His own time and in His own wonderful ways. Truly our soul can never stop longing for our Lord to fill us with Himself and His love. Our soul is restless until we find our rest in Him. Like you, I too desire a closer walk with the Lord daily. Thank you for sharing with us. Thanks for your visit and encouragements. May God continue to draw you closer to Him and answer your prayers in His wonderful ways. Take care!
Warm regards,
Nancie
Yes, I've been desperate at times for the Lord to answer my prayers. I can think of one time in particular--actually two times of deep desperation. The Lord had a lot to teach me before the answers I desired came to pass. Praise Him for His faithfulness and sustaining grace!His word will not return to Him void. You can count on it!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Janis
Thank God He hears and answers our prayers in His time. Praying He will answer our prayers ~ Blessings ~
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for your lovely comments! It is greatly appreciated! And thank you for sharing your times of desperation for God. I pray that the Lord will show Himself to you in a mighty and glorious way and in our desperation we will grow ever closer to Him!
ReplyDelete