Word of Encouragement (07/25/2023)
And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.” (1 Sam. 2:1)
Today’s passage begins with, “And Hannah prayed and said…” (v. 1). This simple statement shows a significant change that has taken place in Hannah’s life. Remember the last time she prayed in Shiloh? “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly…. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard” (1:10, 13). Her prayer was overcome with grief and weeping. She was so painfully aware of her shame that she could not even pray out loud. She could pray only in the secret chamber of her heart. Even so, she couldn’t contain her lips from moving because her sorrow was too intense. Now, a few years have gone by. Hannah is in Shiloh again. She is praying again. But this time, she is not weeping. She does not just pray in her heart, only her lips moving silently because of shame. Hannah prays and says her prayer out loud for others to hear! A bold declaration replaces her shame-induced, hushed prayer. Oh, how things have changed for her! Isn’t it wonderful when you don’t have to hide what is in your heart when your heart is bubbling with something that you want the whole world to know?
Let us pause here for a second and recognize the importance of thanksgiving. When we get desperate, we pray with all our might. Then, what happens when God answers our prayer? It is often the case that we are so busy enjoying the blessing of the answered prayer that we forget to give thanks to God. Even when we do thank Him, it is often too cursory to do justice to the favor God has shown to us. We instinctively know that this is not right. We know what it feels like to do a favor for someone, which cost you much time and energy and thoughtfulness, and receive no expression of gratitude or even a simple acknowledgment. When that happens, we try to remember that “we should do good for nothing,” not to get anything in return. But we cannot help but have a bitter taste in our mouths.
But that bitter taste may not be simply due to our ego and pride. Maybe we desired our relationship to deepen through the exchange of doing a favor and giving thanks. It is the duty of the parents to take care of the children. But when the children recognize that their parents do things for them out of love and show their gratitude for all that they do for them, doesn’t it take the relationship to a deeper place? Would it be wrong to think that such is why God answers our prayers? God loves us and wants to give us what is good for us. But it is not just to make our lives comfortable and easy, which can be detrimental to our spiritual well-being. God knows that what is best for us is to grow deeper and more intimate with Him, who is the Fount of life and every blessing. If He desires us to acknowledge what He has done for us and give him heartfelt thanks, it is not because He needs it to feel better for Himself; it is because He wants us to draw nearer to Him as He has drawn near to us. Isn’t that why He gave us Himself in the giving of His beloved Son?
How has God blessed you? Has He done anything recently? Let us survey His wondrous grace and all His benefits and give Him our heartfelt thanks!