How To Go From A Heart of Despair To A Heart of Praise! 1st Samuel 1-2

Today is a special day. It is a day that we gather to celebrate Mothers all over this nation. I’m not 100% sure about a lot of things but one thing I know for sure if you are alive today, you have a mother.

Mothers are special people. They care for us, go through pains in childbirth (All mothers say, “Thanks EVE”).

Historical Background Of Mother’s Day

Excerpts taken from https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day

Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.”

...The origins of Mother’s Day as celebrated in the United States date back to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs" to teach local women how to properly care for their children.

These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided over the Civil War. In 1868 Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation.

Another precursor to Mother’s Day came from the abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” a call to action that asked mothers to unite in promoting world peace. In 1873 Howe campaigned for a “Mother’s Peace Day” to be celebrated every June 2.

Other early Mother’s Day pioneers include Juliet Calhoun Blakely, a temperance activist who inspired a local Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan, in the 1870s. The duo of Mary Towles Sasseen and Frank Hering, meanwhile, both worked to organize a Mothers’ Day in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some have even called Hering “the father of Mothers’ Day.” Anna Jarvis Turns Mother's Day Into a National Holiday

The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children.

After gaining financial backing from a Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker, in May 1908 she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. That same day also saw thousands of people attend a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s retail stores in Philadelphia.

Following the success of her first Mother’s Day, Jarvis—who remained unmarried and childless her whole life—resolved to see her holiday added to the national calendar. Arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood.

By 1912 many states, towns and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday, and Jarvis had established the Mother’s Day International Association to help promote her cause. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

Anna Jarvis had originally conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother or attending church services. But once Mother’s Day became a national holiday, it was not long before florists, card companies and other merchants capitalized on its popularity.

While Jarvis had initially worked with the floral industry to help raise Mother’s Day’s profile, by 1920 she had become disgusted with how the holiday had been commercialized. She outwardly denounced the transformation and urged people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards and candies.

So, now you know a little bit more about this day. However, honoring our Mothers goes back way further than what even this article.

In Exodus 20:12 “12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

The Bible is clear that we are to Honor our Mothers. We shouldn’t need a special day on the calendar to remind us to honor them, the Bible tells us to Honor Them Every Day!

As we gather today to celebrate and honor mothers, I’m also reminded that while many celebrate today, there are those who are sad today. There are those who don’t have their mothers with them as they have passed on to eternity. There are those who might not be in a right relationship with their mothers. There are those who maybe have never met their birth mothers and they wonder why. Still, there are those who God has chosen not to bless with Children for whatever reason.

Mother’s Day can be a day of despair

Mother’s Day can be a day of depression

Mother’s Day can be a day of anxiety

Mother’s Day can be a day of worship

Mother’s Day can be a day of joy

Mother’s Day to me though isn’t a day to celebrate just the mothers. To me Mother’s day is a day to Celebrate all of our ladies. I’m a firm believer that it takes a village to raise a child and even more so today than in years past. I’m also a firm believer that my mother appreciated all the help should could get from all of the ladies who came into my life and helped shape me over the years.

Today, I want us to look at a particular lady in God’s Word who was heartbroken and in all types of despair because God had chosen not to give her a child. She was depressed, couldn’t and wouldn’t eat. She was made fun of and ridiculed even though her husband loved her greatly. She was a lady who was full of anxiety and so many more emotions. However, this lady knew exactly where to turn to overcome her despair and that is why today we are going to look at the Life of Hannah. A woman who shows us all “How to go from a Heart of Despair to A Heart of Praise!”

Let’s look at 1st Samuel 1-2.

Even Godly Women/People Can Be Depressed! 1st Samuel 1:5-8

1 Samuel 1:5–8 ESV

5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

Why Was She Depressed?

He womb was closed!

Peninnah ridiculed her because of her barrenness

This was considered in those days as being cursed by God!

She overlooked the fact that even though she was barren, she was loved so much by her husband.

This is the way a husband is to love his wife. Unconditionally!!!!!!!

Ephesians 5:25 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

The Key To Overcoming Depression and Despair !(1st Samuel 1:10-11)

1 Samuel 1:10–11 ESV

10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

Turn To God

Why did she need to turn to God? Because it was God who had closed her womb. Folks, we need to remember that children are a gift from God and a blessing from God. If God closed the womb, only God can open the womb. In 1st Samuel 1:6 “6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.” we read about how God had been the One to close the womb. In 1st Samuel 1:19 “19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.” we read how the Lord remembered Hannah and openned her womb.

Dr. Tony Evans says, “The inclusion of these parallel truths signals to us that if God causes a problem, only God can fix it.” ( Evans, Tony. CSB Tony Evans Study Bible (p. 2558). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. )

If God is allowing you to go through something, God is the only one who can bring you out of it. We need to Cast All Of OUr Cares On Him!!!!!

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Matthew 11:28 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Pray

Philippians 4:6 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Hannah didn’t just pray, she prayed so fervently that Eli, the priest thought she was intoxicated/drunk. She wasn’t drunk, she was desperate for God to move in her life. She was pouring her heart out to God. She wanted a great movement of God in her life.

Trust God

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Not only did Hannah trust that God would answer her prayer for a son, she promised God that she would give that son back to God.

Think about this for a moment. She wanted a son so bad that she was depressed, she was accused of being drunk because of her actions in prayer. However, she made a promise to God that if God would answer her prayer, she would give him back to God.

How many times do people make God a promise only to renege on that promise? God, if you will heal me of this sickness, I promise I will get in church, I will be nicer to others, I will give more to the needy, I will do this… and I will do that! Only to go back to living the life they have always lived after they get what they want.

Today is mother’s day. How many times have kids promised their parents that they would do whatever they wanted them to do if they would only give them such and such? Well, how many times did that child not follow through with that promise?

If we truly want God to work in our lives, we must be willing to Give our Everything To God!

We must give our lives!

We must give our word! We must give our all!

After all He Gave His Everything For Us!!!!!!

The Result of Overcoming Despair is A Heart of Joy and Praise (1st Samuel 1:18-28).

When Hannah had given her despair to God, she left, ate, and was no longer sad (1st Samuel 1:18)

1 Samuel 1:18 ESV

18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

Why was she no longer sad? Because the Joy of The Lord was her strength!!!!

Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Her Faith In God

We see throughout this passage that this family was a family that worshipped God. As a result, they would have had a faith in God to answer their prayers. They would have understood the power of God and she handed it over to God.

Today, what do you need to hand over to God? What is dragging you down that you are holding on to that is continuing to hold you back from having a life of joy and peace that only comes through Christ?

Remember Philippians 4:6 where Paul says not to be anxious about anything but hand it over to God. Well, here is the result....PEACE!!!!!!

Philippians 4:7 ESV

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God Answered Her Prayer

1 Samuel 1:20 ESV

20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”

She Was Faithful To He Promise To The Lord!

1 Samuel 1:24–28 ESV

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

A Heart of Praise Continues For Life (1st Samuel 2:1-10)

Conclusion:

One might ask… “Why preach a message like this on MOther’s Day?” Well, how many mothers struggle with worry and concern over their children? How many people are depressed on mother’s day? How many people are going through life with depression and despair?

I’m here to tell you that there is hope and that hope is only found in JESUS CHRIST!

Today, whatever you are struggling with, will you hand it over to the Lord?

Maybe the reason that you are having such a difficult time is that you have never surrendered your life to Jesus. You can make that change today.

Today, you can make that choice to living with a heart of despair and start living with a heart of praise. You just have to fully surrender your life to Christ as Hannah did.

Admit You Are A Sinner

Believe that Jesus is God’s Son. He lived 33 sinless years, died on an old rugged Cross, was placed in a borrowed tomb, and walked out of that tomb 3 days later.

You need to believe that you need Jesus to forgive you of your sins and know that Jesus paid the price for your sins when He died on that old rugged cross. Your debt has been paid, you only have to accept that free Gift of eternal life.

Confess your sins to Him! This is the process of repenting. You have to turn away from your sins and turn to Christ. This is what happens when we turn from being a slave to sin and become a slave to righteousness.

This morning, will you accept God’s free Gift of eternal life which is available to you this morning. All you have to do is say, Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I need you to forgive me of my sins. I know that you died for my sins, and this morning, I no longer want to be a slave to sin but rather a slave to Jesus and His righteousness. Please save me from my sins and become the Lord of my life.

This morning if you prayed that prayer, when we have the time of response, this is the time to show God that you meant the prayer. Come join me at the front and tell me that you prayed that prayer today.

Maybe some of you are here this morning and you know that God wants you to become part of the church family here at Union. I would love to help you get on the path to become part of our family. Just come down and tell me that you want to become a part of our family. We will get you on that path.

Finally, if God is leading you to make a decision this morning, I would encourage you to show God that you mean business. I would encourage you to step out of your pew and join me and others around this Altar to praise God and find His Peace!

Whatever it might be, join Him at His Altar this morning.

How Will You Respond This Morning?