Trials have the unfortunate ability to completely knock you off of your feet. Trials are painful and that pain is to be expected, but the question is, what will you do when a trial knocks on your door? 1 Samuel starts off with the bleak scene of Hannah’s life. She’s struggling with infertility, she has been for a while, and not only that but she has the other woman that her husband married, likely because she’s infertile, tearing into that wound and pouring all the salt she can find on it just to spite her. She’s so affected by this trial that she can’t even eat. She is completely overwhelmed.
But what does she do about it? Well she doesn’t turn to witchcraft like Saul, she doesn’t run away like Elijah, or return revile for revile. No, instead she goes to the tabernacle, she runs to the presence of God and through tears she pours her heart out to the Lord. She lays out her complaints and her grief in prayer.
And it’s not like everything got better for her right away. Matter of fact as she’s praying, the pastor on site, the priest, accuses her of being drunk. But Hannah remains faithful, she keeps her eyes on God. And out of this situation God hears her prayers and gives her a son who would bring revival to Israel.
So when God gives you a trial. Follow the example of Hannah. When you get laid off from your job, take it to the Lord in prayer. When your car breaks down AGAIN, take it to the Lord in prayer. When you struggle with infertility, take it to the Lord in prayer. Replace the urge to panic with prayerful petitions, replace the desire to sulk with relentless hope. We are to cast our cares on Him and we do this because we know that He cares for us.
Jeremiah Jasso – April 7, 2024
