Hannah’s story is found in 1 Samuel chapters 1 and 2.
Many of us have emotions associated with our life stories. Mainly because we are human, and our feelings and emotions can go up and down depending on what we are going through right at a single moment in time. The story in 1 Samuel is all tied up with emotions. That story is about a lady named, Hannah.
Hannah had stuff going on in her life, and if you have ever read and studied her story, you may know of some of the things that she dealt with daily.
Let’s look at some of those things.
Hannah had family issues.
She was one of two wives. I could go on about the relationship between them all, but isn’t being one of two wives enough to wreak some havoc on your emotions?
Frankly, we all have family to live with and deal with, and family, whether you are close or estranged, will always be part of our stories. There is always so much to deal with when it comes to families. There are sick spouses, sick children, being caretakers, in-laws, infidelity, children who are disobedient, abuse, and the list could go on and on.
Hannah could not have children.
Not having children was bad enough, but the other problem. Her husband’s other wife could. Can you imagine how that played on Hannah’s emotional status?
Sometimes whether it is not being able to have children, or not getting a good job, or no matter what it is that makes us feel left out or makes us feel we are not complete can really torture us internally.
Hannah was bullied.
That other wife did not just have children with the husband, but the Bible calls her Hannah’s “adversary” (1 Samuel 1:6). She bullied her to the point that it made Hannah fret.
“And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.” 1 Samuel 1:6
Hannah did not get any peace.
Poor Hannah. That other wife continually picked on her about not being able to bear children. And she did it to the point where Hannah cried and would not even eat.
“And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore, she wept, and did not eat.” 1 Samuel 1:7
Hannah basically got stuck on a road trip with her husband’s other wife every year and it was not a pleasant one. Each year as they went to the temple to worship, Hannah was under more and more of a strain.
Summing Up
In the end Hannah can bear a son. It is Hannah giving God the praise. It is her prayer praising God for delivering her.
This was a beautiful emotional climax to her story. It is the part we oooh and ahhhh over. Justice! Hannah has gone from sad, fretting, and not eating to a joyful heart!
I have just tried to hit the highlights of Hannah’s story today, but please read on through that first and second chapter of 1 Samuel. Take in all the prayer of praise Hannah gives. It will lift your spirits.
I just wanted to remind you that everyone has emotional baggage and emotional stress as part of their life story. It is part of normal everyday life. We just all must choose how we deal with it, so our stories are written in a way that pleases the Lord.
So, how are you handling the emotional side of your life’s story?
Sources
The Hannah Anointing: Becoming a Woman of Resilience, Fulfillment, and Fruitfulness - Michelle Mcclain-Walters
https://www.juliabettencourt.com/blog/
God's Daughters: Loved, Held, Accepted, Enough - Hannah Fytche
Life Lessons from Women in the Bible - Rhonda Harrington Kelley