You Can Get Through the Difficulty of Waiting
1. God often uses barrenness to display His power and advance His plans.
Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord…at the Tabernacle...On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children. And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the Lord had given her no children. 1 Samuel 1:2-5 NLT
Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. Psalm 2:8 NLT
The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.’ Psalm 2:7-8NLT
2. God will allow your lack to become front and center. He’s getting your attention.
So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. Year after year it was the same...as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” 1 Samuel 1:6-8NLT
3. This is your breakthrough moment: You are not breaking through to God, He is breaking through to you.
...at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime...” 1 Samuel 1:9-11NLT
4. When God gives you a promise, live as if it’s fulfilled. (Godfidence!)
As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking...I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May [God] ...grant the request you have asked of him.” “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. 1 Samuel 1:17-18NLT
Delight yourself...in the Lord, and He will give you the...secret petitions of your heart. Psalm 37:4 AMP
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:5 ESV
God keeps His word. Will you?
“I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he
will belong to the Lord his whole life.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28NLT
Message Notes: The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. The Amplified Bible.