hannah

I was reading in the beginning of I Samuel this morning the story of Hannah's desperation to have a child. I am sure some of you are familiar with this story- Hannah's "womb had been closed" and she was desperate for a child. In those days, a woman's worth was in her ability to have children and her husband's other wife was ridiculously fertile (which didn't help matters for Hannah)!

There was a reference referring to another verse that coordinates with this passage that I looked up.

Genesis 50:20-
"But Joseph said to them... "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done- the saving of many lives."

When I was reading the above Scripture, I thought about the fact that Hannah's womb was not just barren, it had been closed, reserved by a Sovereign God. I liken myself to Hannah in this story. We each have a struggle to have what seems to be the strongest desire of our hearts- what we were made for. For Hannah, it was to be a mother. For me, it is to be married and have a family. Hannah was not aimlessly waiting, God had closed her womb on purpose, for a time. The verses say that this was not "to harm" her, it was purposeful- so that many would be saved.

My hope is that this season of my life, and yours, would not be one that is "saved" during which its purposes are not fulfilled. My prayer is that "many will be saved" through this time in our lives. May we continue to run hard after the Lord, use this time well, and bring others to know the Lord more intimately!