For (Not So) Obvious Reasons

From the GirlTalk Book Club file: 

“Of all the women we’ve studied, whose life has encouraged you the most and why?” 

From the day I first picked up this book, I was eager to read the chapter on Hannah…for one rather obvious little reason.  (It is where my Hannah got her name.) But, the reason I chose the chapter on Hannah as my answer to this question goes a little beyond the obvious. Dr. MacArthur said that,  

“Hannah stood out as a ray of light.  Not only was she the quintessential godly mother and wife, but in a spiritually cold generation she exemplified patience, prayerfulness, faith, meekness, submission, spiritual devotion, and motherly love.” (pg. 92)   

This story has always been one of my favorites.  But, this time, it was Hannah’s attitude and response to her circumstances caught my attention. I needed to be convicted of some very wrong thinking and attitudes.  I know that the question asked, “Which woman’s life has most encouraged you?”  And, I also know that conviction and encouragement are not necessarily the same thing.  But, if the conviction leads to a change, they can go hand in hand.  The encouragement comes as you begin to find hope in correcting the sinful thoughts, attitudes, and behavior.  In this chapter, Dr. MacArthur reminds us of God’s calling to women   

“…it has been God’s plan from the beginning that women should train and nurture godly children and thus leave a powerful imprint on society through the home (1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 2:3-5).  Hannah is a classic illustration of how that works.  She is a reminder that mothers are the makers of men and the architects of the next generation.” (pg. 94)   

This is the story of a woman who “understood that motherhood is the highest calling God can bestow on any woman.” (pg. 93) 

I would never pretend that there are not drastic differences between my own situation, and that of Hannah’s.  “She longed to be a mother.  It was her one ambition in life.” (pg. 92)  But, she suffered because of her inability to have a child, and that pain was only intensified by the taunting of her husband’s other wife.  By way of contrast, I have it all!  I have a beautiful daughter, who I love more than words can say.  My husband works hard so that I can stay home and take care of her. I do not, in any way, want to minimize just how precious my little girl is to me (to both of us!), or how blessed I am to have her.  But, I have always wanted more than one child, so I was thrilled when I found out that we were expecting our second child.  But, the joy was short-lived, when, just a few months later, we were informed that we had lost our unborn baby as a result of a miscarriage.  I knew that trying again was a possibility, so I assumed that the wait would not be long before we were once again expecting another little one.  Seven (long) months have passed, and I am still waiting… 

It has not been an easy wait.  The months have been full of hope, anticipation, disappointment, and heartache.  I have often caught myself playing the “if only” game.  You know how it goes…If only the circumstances were different, If only this hadn’t happened, If only this would/did happen…Unfortunately, it is a game we cannot win. It only leads us deeper into the battle of bitterness and self-pity. But, Hannah’s response produced the correct result. 

“It was significant, I think, that despite the bitter agony Hannah suffered because of her childlessness, she never became a complainer or a nag.  There’s no suggestion that she ever grumbled against God or badgered her husband about her childlessness.  Why should she whine to Elkanah?  Children are an inheritance from the Lord (Psalm 127:3; Genesis 33:5).  Hannah seems to have understood that, so she took her case straight to the Lord.  Despite her disappointment and heartache, she remained faithful to YHWH.  In fact, frustration seems to have turned her more and more to the Lord, not away from Him.” (pg. 97)   Hannah “truly laid her troubles in the lap of the Lord, totally confident that He would answer her in accord for what was best for her.” (pgs. 100-101) 

She did not know that the Lord would answer her prayer for a child in the affirmative.  But, she understood that only God could fulfill her desire.  She took her burden before His throne, and left it there.    

“Her extraordinary life stands as a wonderful example to women today who want their homes to be places where God is honored, even in the midst of a dark and sinful culture.  Hannah showed us what the Lord can do through one woman totally and unreservedly devoted to Him.” (pg. 105)