How can we trust God's plan when facing personal challenges like Hannah? \A Painful Plot Twist Allowed by God\ “ But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.” (1 Samuel 1:5) • The verse states plainly that the Lord Himself had closed Hannah’s womb. Scripture records this as fact, not accident. • If the same God who speaks galaxies into existence allows a hardship, He also holds the purpose behind it. His sovereignty and His goodness never part company. • A closed door from God is not proof of His absence but evidence of His active authorship in our story. \Perfect Love in an Imperfect Season\ • Elkanah’s “double portion” signals affection, yet Hannah’s deepest need still seemed unmet. Love from people, even sincere, cannot replace God’s larger plan. • Psalm 34:18 affirms, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.” Nearness does not always mean immediate relief, but it guarantees unwavering care. • When life feels stalled, God’s love is not on pause. It sustains and prepares. \Choosing Trust Over Bitterness\ • Hannah “prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears” (1 Samuel 1:10). Her anguish drove her toward God, not away. • She vowed her future child to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:11), aligning her desire with God’s glory. • After praying, “she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast” (1 Samuel 1:18). Peace arrived before the pregnancy did. • James 1:2-4 explains the outcome: tested faith produces maturity, not misery. \Practical Steps for Trusting God\ • Acknowledge God’s hand in every chapter, pleasant or painful. • Pour out the whole heart in honest prayer; conceal nothing, hold back nothing. • Surrender personal outcomes to God’s larger purposes, just as Hannah offered Samuel before conception. • Keep worship central (1 Samuel 1:19). Worship shifts focus from what hurts to Who rules. • Wait expectantly; God “remembered her” at the right time (1 Samuel 1:19-20). \Promises That Hold Us Steady\ • Romans 8:28 — God works all things together for good to those who love Him. • Jeremiah 29:11 — His plans secure a future and a hope. • Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust, acknowledge, and He makes paths straight. • Genesis 50:20 — What others intend for evil, God turns for good. • Isaiah 40:31 — Those who wait on the Lord renew strength. \Looking Back, Looking Forward\ Hannah moved from barrenness to motherhood, from bitterness to song (1 Samuel 2:1-10). Her journey teaches that God’s closed doors may introduce the very miracles that will bless generations. Trusting His plan does not mean denial of pain; it means confidence that every detail is under the direction of a Father who writes perfect endings. |
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