Our guest blogger today is Susan Feaster. Susan is one of our Life Group Connectors for FBS Women's Ministry. God may not answer your prayer the same as He answered Susan's, but He always answers in the way that fits with His plan for your life. You can trust Him to work all things for your good!

 

HANNAH AND ME

 

Hannah had a significant impact on my life.  I relate to Hannah.  You see, our stories are quite similar.

Many years ago, I was a young married woman who wanted very much to be a mother.  Yet I remained childless.  And month after month, as it became obvious that conception had not taken place and no baby was on the way, I became more and more despondent.  My husband and I longed to be parents, but it seemed that was not going to happen.  The doctors recommended that we consider adoption.

During this challenging period of my life, I turned to the Scriptures, and I became acquainted with Hannah.  I had known about Hannah since childhood.  But my focus had always been on Samuel, not on Hannah.  I suppose it would be more accurate to say that I became reacquainted with Hannah.

I turned to the book of 1 Samuel and read these words:

“She (Hannah) was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.”  (1 Samuel 1:10 ESV)

I related to Hannah.  I was deeply distressed.  I wept bitterly.  And often!  I prayed to the Lord. 

Please, Lord!  You know how much we want a baby!  Please, please, please…….Why can’t I get pregnant?  Please, please, please.

Even so, month after month passed and no baby was on the way.  I began to pray Hannah’s prayer.

“O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.”  (1 Samuel 1:11 ESV)

That was my prayer.  While I didn’t pray those exact words, that was the prayer of my heart.  After all, saying things like “if you will indeed look on the affliction….” is not really my typical vocabulary! And just as He did for Hannah, God heard the cry of my heart.  He not only heard, but He answered.  Just as we were about to initiate adoption proceedings, we learned that God had answered our prayers and we were going to be parents!  Several months later, a few weeks ahead of schedule, I gave birth to a son!  And a few years after that, our second son was born. 

When Brian, our first son was born, I prayed Hannah’s prayer a second time…..this time her prayer of thanksgiving:

“For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to Him.  My heart exults in the LORD.”  (1 Samuel 1:27; 1 Samuel 2:1 ESV)

That was my prayer again three years later when Brandon, our second son, was born.

Hannah’s story – and mine – taught me a few life lessons.  First and foremost, I learned about the sovereignty of God.  I learned that God is in control.  Doctors are wonderful, but they don’t have all the answers.  They are, after all, only human.

This experience in my life was a reminder that God hears and answers prayer.  The answer may not always be what we want or expect – although in this case, for me, it was – but He always hears and He always answers.  God heard Hannah’s prayer and honored her request.  He did the same for me.  And He can do the same for you.  What an awesome God!

Through this life experience I also learned persistence.  I learned to never give up.  I learned to keep on praying.  My prayer wasn’t answered the first time I prayed it.  Or the second.  I prayed this prayer for months.  I continued to pray.  I prayed “without ceasing”, as we read in the New Testament.  My answer came after I continued to pray, not knowing when God would answer, but knowing that He would answer.

Through it all, I learned a lot about the character of God.  I learned about His faithfulness.  I had been taught all these things from childhood, but now I was learning these lessons personally.  This experience reaffirmed my confidence in, my trust in, a God who said “Call to me and I will answer you.”  (Jeremiah 33:3 ESV)

I’ve never forgotten these lessons.  Now that I am no longer a young woman, these lessons remain core beliefs for my life.  God is sovereign.  God answers prayer.  His answer is always best.  I can trust Him.

My sons are grown men now with sons of their own.  And every time I look at them, every time I think of them, I am reminded that God answers prayer.