How far are you willing to follow God? Will you continue to follow him even when it seems as if nothing is working out in your life? Will you hold on to God’s unchanging hand even when people say you are Koko or crazy? Will you continue to press until you receive the things God promised you? Let us read the story of Hanna
1 Samuel 1:1-2,6,9-20
‘Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim–zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord. ‘
Here we come across a moving story of a woman named Hannah who seeks and push for her Samuel.
Hannah had wanted a child all her life, but according to the scripture, throughout all her natural attempts to conceive this child, it seemed as if it was fruitless.
Hannah wasn’t only troubled because she couldn’t conceive but also because her rival would rub it in her face every day. Every day her enemy would tease her. The adversary would tell her that she was barren, that she wasn’t good enough, that her life was over. You see, during those time in history, women who could not give their husband a child was neglected and seen as nothing. These women would see themself as being worthless and forsaken.
But as we read further in the scripture, we realize that Hannah had the knowledge and understanding that God was able to open her womb. Hannah trusted and believed God for the impossible. She believed that God was able to make her infertile womb fertile.
I believe Hannah got to this place of faith in God based on what she had heard about God’s ability to provide. I believe that Hannah heard about Sarah Abraham’s wife, who was barren yet gave birth to a child when she was 90 years old and her husband 100 years old (Genesis 11). I believe that Hannah heard about Rebecca Isaac’s wife, who was barren, and God opened her womb and allowed her to give birth to twins (Genesis 25). I believe that Hannah heard about Rachel Jacob’s barren wife, and God opened her womb, and she gave birth to Joseph, who later became the governor of Egypt (Genesis 29).
I believe that Hannah heard about Monoa’s wife, who was barren, and Lord opened her womb, and she gave birth to Samson, who later was declared to be the strongest man ever lived (Judges 13).
Psalms 31:14-16
‘But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake. ‘
Man’s time may be ok in the natural, but God’s timing is perfect in eternity. You need to give God your time so he can give you his timing. Give God your time in fasting, prayers, and supplication, and let Him give his timing in guiding, protecting, blessing, and providing for you. If you are trying to do or get things done on your timing, it will costs unforeseen circumstances in your life, such as shame, heartaches, sorrow, regrets, stress, confusion, worries, nervous breakdown, broken marriage, financial ruins, and so much more…
But God’s timing brings with it the fruits of peace, joy grace, contentment, mercy, goodness, and blessings.
Proverbs 10:22
‘The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. ‘
Isaiah 40:31
‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’
As you listen to me now, I am sure many of you have done some things in the past that were not God’s will, and now you are reaping those fruits. These are the problems that arise when a person does not trust and depend on God to define and establish their divine destiny.
Proverbs 3:5-6
‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ‘
God is the one who created you, so he knows what you need and what is best for you. If you have any troubling problem, you need to be like Hannah and go back to God, your master, to fix these problems. Go to God and not to your husband or wife, not to your friends, not to your family, not to your boss but to God.
A car with manufacturing problems cannot be fixed without the expertise of that manufacturer.
A broken clay pot cannot be put back together properly without the workings of a potter.
A broken shoe needs a shoemaker to repair its damage.
Take your broken pieces and take them to God; he is the potter who can and will remold and realign your entire being. Cry out to God like Hannah if you want to push and give birth to your destiny. Those promises that God has given you must be pushed out even during times of trouble and annoyance from the enemy.
Even when Hannah’s adversary laughed at her, she did not take her focus off God, who was her burden bearer, provider, protector, and sustainer. Do not give attention to the adversary but keep your eyes on Jesus and birth out that destiny in you that will change your generation.
Jesus gave you life and not death, do not settle for defeat but seek God and receive his power to break generational cycles and the negative patterns that are trying to arrest your destiny from being birthed.
Hannah went to God because she needed something only God could give her; although her husband tried, it was not enough. She believed God for a son, and she received that son, whom she humbly gave back to God.
What are you believing God for today? Are you believing God to repair your marriage?
Are you believing God for your wife or husband?
Are you believing God to pay all those bills that are piling up?
Are you believing God for a job or a car or the healing of that sickness?
Listen to these scriptures:
Psalms 91:1-3
‘He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. ‘
Matthew 19:26
‘But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. ‘
Psalms 34:1-4
‘I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. ‘
It does not matter what your needs are; I am here to introduce to you a God who can meet your needs.
The Lord specializes in making his children as he is; becoming like God will cause you to lack nothing because God will give you everything that pertains to Godliness. Trust the Lord and he will take care of all your needs. Just have this consciousness that GIVING BIRTH TO DESTINY WILL REQUIRE YOU TO PUSH and at the end you will manifest the glory and the blessing of God in and throughout your life.
