Provoked in Misery, Still Blessed

[Alba Henderson]

I often think about Hannah and her misery of being barren. As I read this week about Hannah, I noticed she was also provoked, while in her misery state. She Was Provoked By Elkanah's 2nd Wife, Peninnah, Because She Was Not Able To Bear Children And Peninnah Had Sons And Daughters (1SA 1:4,6,7).

Then I started thinking about her name...WHAT WAS HER NAME? Hannah, "gracious" or "favor".

Then I started talking with God. My God, how gracious thou art, but much can a woman take? Being miserable and still provoked by others (how cruel).

However even in her misery and great irritated state, she managed to make a vow unto God! Wow! Then the blessing came!

Can we be as gracious as Hannah was? How often do we make a vow to God when are aggravated or in a state of misery? Just the daily tasks of living can easily place us in that state?

Do we selfishly as God, "When Lord? How Long". I know I do, but Hannah taught me a valuable lesson.

[Dana Neal]

I do as well...so I will stop too....

[Demetria]

Hannah was selfless...the mark of a true woman. It is difficult on the flesh to overcome a state of misery and still go on. There is a great lesson to be learned through this. I am learning it even now, praise God!!! Good for the soul, hard on the flesh.

[Alba Henderson]

Yes, I agree a true woman indeed. Me too Demetria.

[Alba Henderson]

That is how we know that God is real, because we do not lose our MINDS. To function normally in that state,only take the will, power and spirit of God. Experience that now. God is an awesome God. He will keep us, even when we do not want to be kept, lol.

Sometimes the words "You know what God, I'm done!" come out of my mouth. God says, "No you're not!"

[Christi Culp]

I know what you mean Alba. That's why we are called 'the children of God!" LOL

[Alba Henderson]

You right Christi!,LOL

[Wendie Carwise]

I really needed to hear this, Alba. Thank you. The Holy Spirit convicted me that this is an area where I am in greater need of growth in grace. Jesus has helped me to endure a multitude of miseries with grace, but I still struggle with responding in the flesh when being PROVOKED while enduring disciplining trials. My tendancy has always been to respond back in anger, emotionally withdraw, sink into self pity, or prematurely remove myself from the situation before God has accomplished His intended work in, for, or through me. Hannah's biblical account gives me a picture of looking to God for grace in one's misery...even while being afflicted by others.

This scripture from the Amplified translation came to mind:


1 Corinthians 13:5
Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].


I confess that when I choose to react in the flesh rather than choosing to be led by the Spirit, it is because I am choosing some measure of my desire over God's desire. Worse, I am not allowing God's love to freely flow through my inner being. This is the revelation about Hannah's convicts me the most.

It also occurs to me that Hannah's focus was not purely on receiving the desire of her heart. Her vow shows that she immediately returned God's blessing back to Him. She raised her precious Samuel until he was old enough to be weaned and then sacrificially turned him over to the prophethood. Wow. God's love at work in us causes us not to be self seeking even in our desires. Hannah truly reverenced God with all her heart, soul and strength. His eternal purposes and glory were more important to her than the joy of raising her long awaited child.

[Alba Henderson]

We have some incredible woman here, than you Wendie for that lesson as well. We all have work to do, lol. Thank you Lord for your Grace and Mercy.