Women of the Bible: Hannah

To be honest, I've never related much to the more "popular" women of the Bible. Truthfully, my life before Christ aligned more closely with the woman at the well or the gal caught in adultery (John 4; John 8). I very much looked up to the faithfulness of Ruth, Abigail and others like them, but my heart soared at the beauty of redemption found in the lives of the women who weren't anyone's "squad goals."

But Hannah. Oh, dear Hannah. After two miscarriages in six months, the Holy Spirit guided my tearful eyes to her story, just when I needed to recall it. A story of deep longing, pressing temptation and weeping prayers. All things I've become very familiar with in my current season of life.

Many women have longed for a child, and Hannah was no exception. She was barren and the emptiness of her womb crushed her. To make matters more painful, her husband's second wife, Peninnah, daily used her words to pour acid on Hannah's deep wounds. She taunted her and provoked her to despair. And this continued for years. Scripture tells us her husband didn't understand so I imagine she also felt very lonely and isolated. One day, "she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly." (1 Samuel 1:10).

Hannah came to the Lord and laid her broken heart before his throne. 1 Samuel gives us a glimpse into her prayer. "Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard." (1 Samuel 1:13). Have you ever experienced that? Have you ever been so grieved that your lips move through the tears but no sound comes forth? I have.

Hannah was even mistaken by Eli to be drunk! But she said, "No Lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit...I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord." She knew where to go with her longings, didn't she? Like her, we too, can and should pour out our soul before the Lord. Don't hesitate to ask for the good gifts you long for. He is the Gift Giver and will give us the gift best suited for us, whether it's what we've requested or something more needful to us. He is the only one who can satisfy our heart's desires, carry our heavy burdens and heal our shattered spirit.

Does he promise to give us everything we want, when we want it? No, but he promises to always be near and to give us something better than anything we long for...more of him.

And no matter the circumstance, he is enough for us.

Brittany is a follower of Christ, wife to James and Momma to 2 in Heaven. She exists to bring God glory and prays her writing is an avenue for that. She longs to encourage women to think and live biblically and thrives on discussing theology. She also loves coffee way too much. Find her on her personal blog https://brittleeallen.com/ or on Instagram @brittleeallen.