Love That Never Fails

51. Just Ask

Have you ever wanted something so much, that all of your thoughts are continually centred on its pursuit? For any woman who has experienced childlessness, even for a short period of time, you will be familiar with that yearning to have a baby. This all consuming longing had been part of Hannah's life for some time! Without the wonderful interventions of modern fertility treatments, she endured years of feeling inferior as she longed for a child! Hannah's plight was made even more difficult as her husband had another wife who had already given him children. Her grief was compounded by the continual taunting from this other woman. The only bright spot for Hannah was the deep love shown to her by her husband Elkanah.

"There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 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?""
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭1:1-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thinking that his love should have been enough to fulfil his wife, Elkannah also suffered as Hannah wept and refused to eat. It's not clear but it seems that Penniah was clever enough to save her comments for moments when her husband could not hear.  However, Hannah's pain and anguish was being heard by God and there was breakthrough on the way!

"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."
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭1:9-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Notice that Hannah pours out the depths of her heart to the Lord. Even Eli could see that her prayer was genuine, once he was assured that she had not been drinking! He sends her off with a completely changed disposition and with peace and renewed hope in her heart.

"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 ‭1:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What a wonderful name! Whenever Hannah would call her son, she would be reminded that she asked the Lord for a child and He answered. We too need to remember that God hears us when we pray —He is waiting for us to pour out our hearts to Him! We just need to ask! Jesus reminded us of this very thing:

""Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:7-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for hearing the cries of my heart, just as You heard Hannah so long ago. Jesus You made it so clear that it's Your heart to bless us with good gifts. The interesting thing is that sometimes I have to wait a long time or don't get what I've asked for. Please help me to remember that perhaps sometimes what I'm asking for, doesn't come under the category of a 'good gift' or the timing is just not right. Give me patience and direct my eyes and heart to seeking Your will for my life.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am so thankful that You know what is best for my life. I trust You and will keep on seeking You and bringing before You my requests. I will rest in the knowledge of Your love for me.

Amen.