Good morning and Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mother’s to all who are celebrating. And to those women who are waiting to become a mother, there is something here for you too.
Today will be a bit of a departure from my usual post – I want to share a bit of my own story and tie it to a story from the bible.
Every time I think of my own story of those last few days of my pregnancy, I get teary eyed – or full out cry. While I knew of the symptoms of preeclampsia, I was healthy. I spent that Monday when they told me to come in, started on steroid treatments that same evening, and started inducing labor on Wednesday. On Thursday, due to the meds affecting my baby, they decided on emergency c-section at 31 weeks. I delivered a 3 pound 4 ounce baby, and didn’t take her home for 26 days. When she cried for the first time, I heard God answering my prayer – her lungs were developed, and I cried tears.
My now 8 year old took out one of the onesies I had kept – and I realize that even some of her dolls can’t fit it as it’s too small. Ps. When she started wearing it – it had room in it.
Friends, I know that this is not always the case. And I don’t take that for granted. There are many statics of how much more likely Black mothers are to die during child birth, or to leave the hospital empty handed.
And then, as it is in 1 Samuel 1:2-7, and we are approaching Mother’s Day. Hannah wanted a child, and even worse, she had to watch her husband’s other wife show off how fruitful she is.
1 Samuel 1:2-7 NIV
2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 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. 4 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. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 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.
Elkanah loved Hannah. She was special. I heard in another sermon that she should have only gotten one portion because she had no children – but because of his love for her – she got a double portion. Friends, his love did not stop her heart from being sad at that thing that she had longed for – a child.
But wait – can we talk about the words in verses 5 and 6 “the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb”? Wait – what? The Lord had closed up Hannah’s womb. Why would a good God do such a thing? The thing that she had been waiting and trusting Him for – He had intentionally decided that at that moment, she would not be giving birth to any children.
Can you hear the heartbreak and frustration – year after year they went up to worship. I’m guessing the year after year was a big reminder as she was without a child – but there was heartache month after month. You seem to be doing all the right things – and nothing is happening. Nothing.
Friends, there are likely those among us who have done all the right things we have been told to do. Don’t do this. Do this. Follow this rule. And nothing. And instead we get invited to one more zoom baby shower. Can you imagine Hannah as Peninah announces one more pregnancy?
And all Hannah can do is wait on God and trust His timing. 1 Samuel 1:10 starts:
10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 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.”
No matter what the situation, I want to be like Hannah. Persistent and contending with God until He chooses to answer. And I can tell you firsthand, it’s not always easy.
And we know how this story ends. God answers. He gives Hannah Samuel. She waits until he is weaned and sends him to live with the priest Eli. He then grows up and becomes a great prophet. He was even the one to anoint King David.
But, I always want to know what next happened. Hannah got her son, but she gave him back to God. What else happened?
Hannah’s faithfulness was rewarded and in the next chapter it states: 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters.
But what about those women who have been faithfully waiting and asking God to answer prayers for a husband or children, with no answers?
You know what? I don’t know. I try not to give pat answers – but I have come to the conclusion – that no matter how God chooses to answer my requests, I will choose to trust Him and worship anyway. He knows the best for us. He knows the beginning from the end. I pray that no matter where on the spectrum you find yourself today, that we will continue to trust God’s plans for our lives – and that they are good.
