faith like hannah...

Sometimes the pain comes like contractions...

I'm brought to my knees like woman in travail.

I plead with God for deliverance.

Then He reminds me that this is only momentary...

{2 Corinthians 4:17}

soon the pain will give way to great joy...

the reward of the labor...

precious as a newborn child...

to be given back to my Lord...

as Hannah's beloved Samuel...

 

{1 Samuel 1-2:11}

 

Could I leave my little son "to minister to the Lord" and go back home?

{1 Samuel 2:11}

 

She had so longed for a child.

She poured out her soul before God. {1:15}

She only kept him 'til he was weaned...

that's not so very long...

but then what is time?

We aren't guaranteed any sure amount of it.

It's all in the Lord's most capable hands.

It's His to give as He sees fit.

 

What a testimony this woman has.

I can't quite wrap my mind around her beautiful song of thanksgiving...
 

{1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NASB)}

Then Hannah prayed and said,
            “My heart exults in the LORD;
            My horn is exalted in the LORD,
            My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
            Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

      “There is no one holy like the LORD,
            Indeed, there is no one besides You,
            Nor is there any rock like our God.

      “Boast no more so very proudly,
            Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
            For the LORD is a God of knowledge,
            And with Him actions are weighed.

      “The bows of the mighty are shattered,
            But the feeble gird on strength.

      “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
            But those who were hungry cease to hunger.
            Even the barren gives birth to seven,
            But she who has many children languishes.

      “The LORD kills and makes alive;
            He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

      “The LORD makes poor and rich;
            He brings low, He also exalts.

      “He raises the poor from the dust,
            He lifts the needy from the ash heap
            To make them sit with nobles,
            And inherit a seat of honor;
            For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S,
            And He set the world on them.

      “He keeps the feet of His godly ones,
            But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
            For not by might shall a man prevail.

      “Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered;
            Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
            The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
            And He will give strength to His king,
            And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Wow.
This O.T. saint knew her God.
She knew experientially that
e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g
belongs to God.
Even her well-beloved son.
She knew that there was no better place for her little one
than squarely within the Lord's will for him.
He had big plans for little Samuel.
What a lesson to be learned here...

{Deuteronomy 10:14 (NASB)}
"Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens,
 the earth and all that is in it."

...that's pretty inclusive...

...Just a little rabbit trail of thought
that my Lord led me down...
to comfort me.

<3