How can we trust God's timing as seen in 1 Samuel 2:21? Setting the scene Hannah had prayed long and hard for a child. In the interval between her anguished plea (1 Samuel 1) and God’s answer, she continued worshiping, fulfilling her vow, and trusting the Lord. 1 Samuel 2:21 records the culmination of that trust: “And the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.” Seeing God’s timing in 1 Samuel 2:21 • The phrase “the LORD attended to Hannah” points to God’s deliberate, personal action—He had been listening all along. • Her first answer came in Samuel, yet the verse highlights further children, underscoring that God’s timing not only meets the initial request but often exceeds it. • While Samuel “grew up in the presence of the LORD,” Hannah’s household simultaneously expanded. God’s schedule wove together national purposes (raising a prophet) and personal blessings (growing her family). Why His timing is trustworthy • He hears and remembers – “God remembered Rachel” (Genesis 30:22); the same verb structure appears for Hannah. Silence is never neglect. • He acts at the fullness of time – Jesus came “when the fullness of time had come” (Galatians 4:4), proving a consistent pattern of perfect scheduling. • He exceeds expectations – “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Hannah asked for one son; she received six children in total. • He aligns personal good with larger kingdom purposes – Samuel’s life would shift Israel’s history. God’s timetable balances individual longing with His redemptive plan. Living this truth 1. Keep praying persistently (Luke 18:1): sustained prayer keeps the heart aligned with God’s pace. 2. Continue serving faithfully: Hannah fulfilled her vow immediately after Samuel’s birth (1 Samuel 1:24–28). Obedience during the wait is a statement of trust. 3. Guard your perspective: rehearse past faithfulness (Psalm 77:11). What God did for Hannah illustrates what He still does. 4. Celebrate interim blessings: Samuel’s growth “in the presence of the LORD” was an ongoing sign that God’s promise was alive even before the additional children arrived. 5. Rest in His character: “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him” (Lamentations 3:25). Trust is anchored not in circumstances but in who He is. Echoed elsewhere in Scripture • Abraham and Sarah—Isaac born “at the appointed time” (Genesis 21:2). • Joseph—years in prison, then sudden promotion (Genesis 41:14). • David—anointed as a youth, crowned years later (2 Samuel 5:4). • Elizabeth—John the Baptist conceived “in her old age” (Luke 1:36). Each account reinforces the lesson of 1 Samuel 2:21: God’s timing is neither hurried nor delayed; it is sovereignly perfect, always for His glory and the believer’s ultimate good. |
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