Surrender in Waiting

 

Surrender in Waiting

The Bible (I Samuel) tells a story of a woman named Hannah. She was married to a man named Elkanah who loved her. Hannah longed to have a child; however, the “Lord had closed her womb” (I Sam. 1: 6). Year after year, Hannah would travel with Elkanah to the city to worship and make sacrifices to the Lord. She went to the tabernacle and “prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish” (I Sam. 1:10). She refused to eat. Elkanah tried to comfort his wife, asking her if he was not enough, “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (I Sam. 1:8). Hannah continued to pray in the tabernacle, “O Lord of hosts… remember me, do not forget me. Give me a male child, then I will give him to [you] all the days of his life” (I Sam. 1: 11).

Eli was the priest at the Tabernacle; he had watched Hannah. Although her lips were moving, she was not speaking any words aloud. Eli assumed Hannah was drunk and scolded her “How long will be drunk? Put your wine away!” (I Sam. 1: 14). Honestly, this priest did not have a clue! Hannah was overwhelmed with sadness and crying out to God. Did Eli not see the tears streaming down her face? Had Eli never been around a grieving woman? She told Eli that she was not intoxicated but rather “poured out [her] soul before the Lord” (I Sam. 1:15). At this comment, Eli answered, “Go in peace and may the God of Israel grant your petition” (I Sam. 1: 18). I am impressed by Hannah’s composure with Eli. She was at church crying out to God and the priest accused her of being drunk.

Waiting is so hard! I hate waiting. Waiting to get pregnant with my first son. Waiting to hear back from a job interview. Waiting for Dean to be done with his prison sentence and come home. Waiting …. We have all waited at times for something in our lives.

Hannah was waiting to get pregnant. While she was waiting, her “sister-wife” Peninnah taunted her. Peninnah had multiple children; the Bible states she had “sons and daughters” (I. Sam. 1: 4). In fact, the Bible refers to her Peninnah as Hannah’s rival (vs. 6). So often when I’m waiting for something, it seems like everyone else has the very thing I want so desperately.

Everyone else has a husband at home while mine is serving time in prison. Everyone else on the basketball team has their dad at the games. Everyone else…… the list went on and on.

After Hannah “wails” in the tabernacle, she leaves. The Bible states she “went her way and ate and was no longer sad” (vs. 18). What changed? Hannah cried at to God, gave the situation to God, and left it at the altar. Hannah surrendered in the waiting.

Hannah did become pregnant, and she named her son Samuel. She rejoiced at God’s faithfulness and her prayer of thanksgiving is recorded in I Samuel. 2. In that prayer, she stated, “My heart rejoices in the Lord” (I Sam. 2: 1). Hannah kept her promise to God, and when Samuel was weaned, she took him to the tabernacle to serve (and learn) under Eli the priest. Hannah gave Samuel to the Lord, “I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be lent to the Lord” (I Sam. 1: 28). I must admit that I am astonished that she took him to Eli, the same priest that accused her of being drunk. There is no indication that Hannah felt any bitterness over the misunderstanding in the tabernacle that day. Samuel “grew and the Lord was with him” (I Sam. 3: 19). Samuel became a prophet and a leader in all of Israel. He was a mighty man for the kingdom of God. The Lord blessed Hannah with more children, six in total; she had three more sons and two daughters.

The ladies sat around the long conference table in the TV room. The cell was "stuffy" as usual, no air circulation. One lady had a black eye, "street fighting in jail this week" she explained. She continued, "But we are all good now." Several were crowded on the sides and the back of the small room. The table only held ten chairs. Two guards stood at the door of the cell area talking loudly. I shared the message of Hannah. Then I asked each one, "What are you waiting for?" The answer one-by-one was the same, "To get out." The last lady responded "To get out" and then continued with tears filling her eyes, "and to get my kids back."

Lord, help me to bring my anguish to you and leave it in total surrender at the altar. Help me to believe you’ve got every situation. To be able to leave that place of prayer believing, trusting, and no longer sad regardless of my circumstance. Help me surrender in waiting.

To  learn more read I Sam. 1-2.