Mothers Day 25

Open up for a story?

Cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth with Oreos

What did the tree tell her son before a big game? I’m rooting for you.

Why does the mom kangaroo hate rainy days? Because the kids have to play inside.

Ever heard of a job that requires no experience, gives no training, pays nothing and you can’t quit. That’s motherhood! And there’s lives on the line.

Looking back on my childhood in church and school and home it was the moms who did it.

If the women in the churches decided to quit, game over— our schools—

Finding Strength and Hope in Hannah's Story

1 Samuel 1 ESV

There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 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?” 9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 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.” 12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 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. 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. 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.” 21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 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.

In today’s society we look for so many other things to compare ourselves to, we would never think to compare ourselves to Hannah. An Old Testament woman, in Samuel whose journey resonates with the heart of motherhood- its joys, its sorrows, its unwavering faith and its lasting impact. Not just on mothers or women but on men as well. Has anyone ever been bullied, stressed? Hannah teaches to not give up. To rely on God even when things aren’t going what seem our way. And then when God keeps His promises we stay true to our words.

Hannah was a woman living in a time when bearing children held immense cultural and social significance. Yet, she was barren, a reality that brought her profound sorrow and made her the target of ridicule from her husband’s other wife, Peninnah. Imagine the ache in her heart, the silent tears shed in the face of societal expectations and personal longing. Year after year, as her family journeyed to Shiloh to worship, Hannah’s pain was renewed, a constant reminder of what she yearned for.

But Hannah’s story is not one of despair alone. It is a testament to the power of unwavering faith and the profound impact of a mother’s prayer. In 1 Samuel 1:10, we read, "In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly." This wasn't a casual request; it was a pouring out of her soul, a raw and honest conversation with God in the midst of her deepest pain.

It wasn't just a wish; it was a longing. And in that longing, she turned to the only source of true hope. She didn't blame others; she didn't succumb to bitterness. Instead, she directed her pain heavenward. This is a powerful lesson for us today. In our own moments of struggle, when we face seemingly insurmountable challenges, do we turn to God with that same fervent honesty? Do we lay our burdens at His feet, trusting in His ability to hear and to act? I don’t like playing the blame game, building Steves house. We have made some mistakes.. we as a team. We haven’t built many walls without each other. We have built some by ourselves. We have went back and fixed what we messed up. It doesn’t matter whose fault it was.. what does that accomplish? Hannah wasn’t running around blaming anyone or pointing fingers.. where would that have gotten her? If we fought over who did it where would that get us?

Hannah’s prayer wasn't just a plea; it was a powerful vow. In vs 11, she declared, "Lord Almighty, 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—no razor will ever be used on his head." This vow reveals the depth of her faith and her willingness to surrender her deepest desire to God’s purpose. She wasn't just asking for a child to fulfill her own longing; she was willing to dedicate that child back to the Lord. This speaks volumes about her character and her understanding of God’s sovereignty.

The priest Eli, observing her prayer thought she was drunk. But Hannah’s humble and earnest explanation revealed the depth of her spiritual struggle. Eli’s subsequent blessing, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him" (1 Samuel 1:17), served as an encouragement, a sign of hope in the midst of her despair.

And God, in His infinite (limitless) grace and mercy, heard Hannah’s prayer. In 1 Samuel 1:20, we read, "So 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.’" The very name Samuel, meaning "heard by God," became a living testament to the power of her prayer and God’s faithfulness.

But Hannah’s story doesn’t end with the joy of motherhood. True to her vow, after Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him to the tabernacle in Shiloh and presented him to Eli, saying, "For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:27-28). Imagine the love and sacrifice in that moment. Having finally received the son she so desperately longed for, she willingly gave him back to God’s service. This act of selfless dedication is a powerful example of a mother’s love that transcends personal desires and prioritizes God’s will.

Hannah’s story reminds us that motherhood is often intertwined with both immense joy and profound sacrifice. It requires strength, resilience, and faith, even in the face of heartache. It teaches us that our prayers, offered with sincerity and faith, have power. God hears us in our deepest anguish, and He is able to answer in ways we cannot even imagine.

Furthermore, Hannah’s story extends beyond her personal journey. Her son, Samuel, went on to become a pivotal figure in Israel’s history – a prophet, a priest, and a judge who anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. The son born out of Hannah’s desperate prayer became a leader who shaped the destiny of a nation. This highlights the far-reaching impact a mother’s faith and dedication can have, not just on her own child, but on generations to come.

In 1 Samuel 2, Hannah offers a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving, a song of praise that echoes the themes of God’s sovereignty, His ability to lift up the humble and bring down the mighty. Her words resonate with a deep understanding of God’s character and His ways. This song is a reminder that even in the midst of our personal joys and blessings, we should always turn our hearts in gratitude to the One who makes all things possible.

So, on this Mother’s Day, let us reflect on the enduring echo of Hannah’s prayer. Let us be inspired by her faith in the face of barrenness, her fervent communication with God in her pain, and her selfless dedication in fulfilling her vow.

To the mothers here today, know that your prayers for your children, your sacrifices, and your unwavering love have a profound and lasting impact. You are shaping hearts, guiding steps, and instilling values that will ripple through generations. Your role, though often unseen and undervalued by the world, is eternally significant in the eyes of God.

For those who may not be mothers in the traditional sense, but who have nurtured and cared for others – grandmothers, aunts, mentors, friends – your nurturing spirit reflects the heart of God and makes a vital difference in the lives you touch.

May we all learn from Hannah’s example: to turn to God in our deepest needs, to trust in His faithfulness, and to dedicate ourselves and those we love to His service. May the enduring echo of Hannah’s prayer inspire us to live lives of faith, hope, and selfless love. Amen.

I think as a reminder we need to leave here with this on our hearts that we made a commitment to give ourselves to God as well for all the days of our lives. That commitment isn’t just when we want it but it’s a 24/7 commitment