Have you ever wanted something that has not come instantly? Bad question, of course we do, so we are all on level playing ground in this. Desires can drive our lives. In a world of instant gratification, it can be so easy to let the one thing that we are desiring become an idol.
Let's dive into 1 Samuel 1:15-20.
“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. 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.”
Last week we looked at the real and raw emotion that Hannah was experiencing. Emotions are indicators of the heart, which help us understand more what our heart truly wants at any given time. Hannah was deeply desiring to have a good thing, a baby. Yet it was not the timing that God had, in the moment. Have you ever desired a good thing, could be kids, for a friend to come to know The Lord, for someone close to be healed?
It can be a true challenge in this moment when we are faced with waiting on the Lord but each of us has a choice to make when we find ourselves desiring good things but not seeing the desired results of those good things coming to flourishan.
3 Encouragements from Hannah when waiting for a good desire:
Be practical: "Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast." I love how the Bible keeps it real. Hannah is downcast, struggling, wanting good things but not eating. It's encourgaing to see, "just do what you know your body needs." Do you need food... then eat. Do you need extra sleep then do so. God created your body and wants you to take care of it. Are you doing the practical things?
Remain honest: "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.” Hannah is not letting anything stay bottled up. Friends, when the heart is aching it will come out at some point. Wether that is in a healthy way or unhealthy way is the choice you are faced with. If you choose to be honest with the Lord, He will remind you of His word. Are you being honest with The Lord about your fears, doubts and what you are grieving? (Yes, even if you are grieveing something you have already been healded from in the past. Painful things can come back up.)
Remain worshipful: " Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah."
Worship: To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission; as a lover.
We choose who we worship every day. Are we worshiping our circumstances or our King? In the middle of waiting it can be easy to get side tracked by the waiting and forget to worship. Hannah's heart porsture was to worship The Lord through the waiting. To rest in the Soverignty of God after being honest with her heart emotionally. We can actually worship through the waiting. When we choose to focus on the goodness of The Lord and worship through the waiting. It centers our hearts not on what we want but who we want. Jesus is our ultimate goal. And if Jesus and spreading the Gospel is our ultimate goal. Then He will use all life circumstances to draw us closer to Himself. As we authentically worship The Lord, freedom comes because our eyes are set on Him. And our hearts are filled with Him. Being more like Him is the ultimate reward.
The next day Hannah descided to not let her cicumstances dog her down but she got up and worshiped and went on her day. Though you are waiting it is not the end answer. God cares more about the process of trust being built. As we continue to read that God is faithful to hear our crys.
"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.”
The Lord is faithful. He cares more about our character and our oneness with Him then us having instant gratification. He is a good Father and knows what we want. He doesn't withhold any good thing from us. And that good thing is Himself. Next week we will talk more about what Hannah does with this precious child her gift from the Lord!
Questions to process:
What are you currenrly desiring that is a good thing that you don't have?
Have you come to God and grieved not having it.
Has your heart posture been to worship in the waiting? Have you done the paractical? Have you been honest with The Lord? Have you worshiped though it? What has been easy about worshioing in the waiting and what has been hard?