It's Never Wrong to Do the Right Thingનમૂનો

STAND UP

Hannah was a godly woman who grieved that she did not have children. The turning point in her ordeal came one day when she was eating a meal with her husband, Elkanah, and her husband’s second wife, Peninnah, who taunted Hannah for her barrenness. The Bible tells us, “Hannah stood up” (1 Samuel 1:9, NIV). She had had enough. She was standing up to confront herinvisible enemies of despair, failure, intimidation, shame, disappointment,grief, and barrenness.

Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. She promised God that if He gave her a son, she would give the boy back to the Lord.

When the time was right, Hannah shared her vow with her husband, and he agreed. God remembered Hannah and her prayer, and He allowed her to conceive. When she had given birth, she named her son Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him” (v. 20, NIV). How hard it must have been to know she would soon give him up. On the other hand, it must have been thrilling for Hannah to know that she had given birth to a miracle.

Samuel grew up to be the leading prophet and leader of all Israel. And the Lord blessed Hannah with three more sons and two daughters!

Hannah knew a secret: you can never give to God more than He will give back to you. He tells us, “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7, NIV). He is the One who multiplies the good seeds sown.

Hannah’s story reminds us that we can pour out our hearts to God and entrust our grief to Him. He can handle it when we can’t. Scripture tells us that God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). He offers us His strength in exchange for our weakness. When life seems too hard, He extends an invitation of “Come to me … and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NIV).

When we lay our burdens, sadness, and grief at His feet, trusting Him to be our rescuer, we plant seeds in faith. Hannah’s story shows us that we can never imagine the beautiful things that God can grow out of our pain…

If we would just stand up.

DO THE RIGHT THING: Is there hurt in your life that you have been silently suffering from, perhaps for a long time? Stand up to it today by turning it over to God.

This plan is presented to you by It’s Never Wrong to Do the Right Thing by Nicole C. Mullen. To learn more about this book, please click here.