Help Me God…Trust Your Timing

Main Text: 1 Samuel 1:1-26

Introduction

Introduce the theme of trusting God's timing using the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1.

The book of 1 Samuel is one that starts with the prayers of a woman of desperation. She is Hannah, the mother of a future man of God. Although she is barren she finds favor in the eyes of her husband. Hannah comes to God in desperation and prays for an answer. Yet in her prayer, she must TRUST God for his timing. Today we are so quick to jump ahead of God that

When trusting God’s timing we must deal with the pain of waiting.

1 Samuel 1:2–7 (NIV)

2He had two wives; one was called Hannah [Grace] and the other Peninnah [Ruby]. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord.

4Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

5But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.

6Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.

7This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.

A. The problem with waiting.

When we wait it can lead to some things that expose

1. Impatience and Doubt

One of the primary problems with waiting is the tendency to become impatient and doubt God's plan. When answers or results are delayed, it can be easy to lose faith and take matters into our own hands.

· Example of Saul's Impatience:In 1 Samuel 13:8-14, King Saul grew impatient waiting for Samuel to arrive and offer sacrifices before going into battle. Instead of waiting, Saul offered the sacrifices himself, leading to God's disapproval and the eventual loss of his kingdom.

2. Losing Hope

Prolonged waiting can sometimes cause people to lose hope, feeling that their prayers are unheard, or their situation is hopeless.

· Example of Abraham and Sarah:Abraham and Sarah struggled with waiting for God's promise of a child. Their impatience led to the birth of Ishmael through Hagar, but God's promise was fulfilled in His time with the birth of Isaac.

You have to be careful that you don’t jump ahead of God or you’ll have to deal with an Ishmael in your life.

3. Acting Outside of God's Will

When we grow tired of waiting, there is a temptation to act outside of God's will, making decisions based on our limited understanding rather than His perfect wisdom.

· Hannah was believing God for a son,

B. Hannah’s Rival

1. Peninnah was her “sister wife”. She would provoke Hannah because of her situation.

a. Provoke – Kaas - unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment.

b. Satan will often cause situations and people to come around you to Provoke you so that you give up or stop trusting, or stop pressing.

There is a power that comes from waiting on God.

C. The power of waiting

Isaiah 40:31 - “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

D. Application:

1. God understands your situation. He is aware of your struggle.

2. Sometimes we want to pull away. We feel like God doesn’t hear my prayer. How can he answer me? When will He answer me?

II. Trusting God’s Requires praying with persistence.

1 Samuel 1:10–11 (NIV)

10In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.

11And she made a vow, saying, “LordAlmighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

A. Hannah goes to the temple to pray. This time she is different. She is weeping bitterly.

1. Bitter Weeping is when you are crying out from your soul.

Have you ever been so vexed that you weep from the soul.

Romans 8:26 (NASB95)

26In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

2. She prays and is making a vow to God.

Numbers 30:2 (NIV)

2When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

3. She vows to give her son to the work of the Lord. Never to cut his hair or that he will drink strong drink. [Nazarite Vow]

a. Prayers we pray in desperation that we don’t really mean.

b. Be careful that you don’t make a vow to the Lord you don’t intend to keep.

B. When we are going through bitter times we must pray persistently and fervently.

Philippians 4:6 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

God want you to come to him for His timing! He hears your cry and understands your struggle and will help you through. He will answer your prayer.

Psalm 145:18-19 (NASB): "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them."

III Trusting God’s Timing means we must have Faith in God's Promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NASB95)

For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.

1 Samuel 1:17–18 (NIV)

17Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

18She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

A. Eli, blesses Hannah even though the answer was not immediate.

1. Eli blesses Hannah – a blessing was not wishful thinking. It was often a way of communicating real benefits.

2. Sometimes we want God’s answers to be immediate, instead of waiting for the promise.

3. God always upholds His Promises. He will never not fulfill ANY of his promises.

a. When you ask of God are you asking according to His will and promises?

ILL – Jadyn – reminding me of the promises to take her to eat.

B. We often want God to answer His promises now. It’s not that HE cannot, its that he wants to be sure of our faith.

a. Faith moves the hand of God.

Romans 8:28 - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Application – When you are going through a situation, don’t rush ahead of God, rest on HIS promises that what He said is going to happen.

IV. We must Trust God for His timing.

1 Samuel 1:19–20 (NIV)

19Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lordremembered her.

20So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

A. “In the course of time…”

1. When the bible uses the phrase “in the course of time…” it is referencing a period of time and not an immediate action.

2. Notice that Hannah didn’t get pregnant right there. It still took time for God to answer her prayer.

B. God’s timing is always perfect, even though it may not lineup with our own.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

1. We may want it now, but God know the perfect time to bring what you are praying for into your life.

Psalm 37:7 (NASB):"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.”

C. If you seeking God for an answer. Rest and wait… God will bring about your answer in the right time and in the right way.

Just keep serving God… even when you don’t see the immediate.

Conclusion

Recap the main points about trusting God’s timing: the pain of waiting, praying with persistence, faith in God's promise, trusting His timing, and responding with gratitude. Call to Action:

What are you asking of God? What are you praying that God will do? We want to stand with you and like Eli we want to speak over you that God will move in HIS time.