I Samuel 1:11
‘She made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”’
When we go through difficulties we often think, “Why is this happening?” We never know for sure. However, sometimes we get a general idea. Character building was part of it, but this vow was probably the main reason for Hannah’s difficulties. God was looking for a prophet and he was to come through her.
Samuel was a special person. No doubt his mother’s struggles put much compassion into him. He would lead the people faithfully in the ways of the Lord. Two kings would be chosen through him.
Hannah’s trying situation and desperation for a child put her in the state of mind to dedicate him to the Lord. Our settings do the same to us. Pressure tends to push us towards particular options. They may have not have been on our minds, if not for the trials.
Proverbs 21:1 say, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.” That which is true of the king, is so with us. One of the ways He influences us is through circumstances. I don’t believe He causes them (or at least not all of them) but He uses them.
Hannah’s circumstance was a troubling one. She referred to it as affliction. Paul also had affliction. Some think it was an eye ailment. He prayed on multiple occasions to be rid of it. Here’s the response he got in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
Paul accepts his difficulty as God’s will. He attempted to be rid of it. Yet the Lord told it was necessary. We can also attempt to resolve our issues. The Lord won’t allow us to be tried beyond what we can handle (I Corinthians 10:13). Hannah’s problem gets resolved soon with a wonderful result.
Lord, thank You that You lovingly and wisely manage our lives. Help us to yield to and look to You as we go throughout our days.