WHEN LIFE HANDS US LEMONS Be Energized Because God Hears Our Prayers
ReCharge • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
1 Samuel 1:1–20
1 Samuel 1:1–20
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning!
Good morning!
We've all heard the saying, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade."
We've all heard the saying, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade."
That sounds great... until life actually hands you lemons.
That sounds great... until life actually hands you lemons.
Sometimes those lemons are a difficult diagnosis.
Sometimes those lemons are a difficult diagnosis.
Sometimes they're financial struggles.
Sometimes they're financial struggles.
Sometimes they're broken relationships.
Sometimes they're broken relationships.
Sometimes they're unanswered prayers that seem to go on year after year.
Sometimes they're unanswered prayers that seem to go on year after year.
What do you do when life is sour?
What do you do when life is sour?
Today we're looking at a woman named Hannah who discovered that even when life doesn't make sense, God still hears His people.
Today we're looking at a woman named Hannah who discovered that even when life doesn't make sense, God still hears His people.
Before we begin, let me tell you a story.
Before we begin, let me tell you a story.
An elderly man finally bought a hearing aid after years of refusing one.
An elderly man finally bought a hearing aid after years of refusing one.
A few weeks later his doctor asked, "How's it working?"
A few weeks later his doctor asked, "How's it working?"
"Oh, it's wonderful!"
"Oh, it's wonderful!"
"I bet your family is thrilled."
"I bet your family is thrilled."
The man smiled and said,
The man smiled and said,
"I haven't told them yet...
"I haven't told them yet...
I've just been sitting around listening...
I've just been sitting around listening...
and I've changed my will three times."
and I've changed my will three times."
Sometimes hearing changes everything.
Sometimes hearing changes everything.
Sometimes people don't hear us correctly.
Sometimes people don't hear us correctly.
Sometimes they misunderstand us completely.
Sometimes they misunderstand us completely.
But there's One who never misunderstands.
But there's One who never misunderstands.
God hears every prayer, every tear, and every cry of His children
God hears every prayer, every tear, and every cry of His children
That's exactly what Hannah discovered.
That's exactly what Hannah discovered.
(Read 1 Samuel 1:1–20)
(Read 1 Samuel 1:1–20)
Background
Background
Israel was spiritually bankrupt.
Israel was spiritually bankrupt.
The period of the Judges was ending.
The period of the Judges was ending.
Everyone was doing what was right in his own eyes.
Everyone was doing what was right in his own eyes.
Before God raised up Samuel to lead the nation...
Before God raised up Samuel to lead the nation...
He raised up a praying mother.
He raised up a praying mother.
Isn't that just like God?
Isn't that just like God?
He often changes a nation by first changing a heart.
He often changes a nation by first changing a heart.
I. PERCEPTION
I. PERCEPTION
People Often Misunderstand What God Perfectly Understands.
People Often Misunderstand What God Perfectly Understands.
One of the hardest parts of suffering is being misunderstood.
One of the hardest parts of suffering is being misunderstood.
Hannah knew that feeling.
Hannah knew that feeling.
She desperately wanted a child.
She desperately wanted a child.
Her husband loved her, but he couldn't fix her pain.
Her husband loved her, but he couldn't fix her pain.
Peninnah constantly mocked her because she couldn't have children.
Peninnah constantly mocked her because she couldn't have children.
Every year Hannah went to worship...
Every year Hannah went to worship...
Every year Peninnah reminded her of what she didn't have.
Every year Peninnah reminded her of what she didn't have.
Then, when Hannah finally pours out her heart before the Lord, Eli, the high priest, accuses her of being drunk.
Then, when Hannah finally pours out her heart before the Lord, Eli, the high priest, accuses her of being drunk.
Imagine coming to church broken...
Imagine coming to church broken...
only to be judged.
only to be judged.
Have you ever been misunderstood?
Have you ever been misunderstood?
Someone assumed your motives.
Someone assumed your motives.
Someone judged your heart.
Someone judged your heart.
Someone spoke without knowing your story.
Someone spoke without knowing your story.
Hannah experienced all of that.
Hannah experienced all of that.
But while everyone misunderstood Hannah...
But while everyone misunderstood Hannah...
God never did.
God never did.
Psalm 56 says God collects our tears in His bottle.
Psalm 56 says God collects our tears in His bottle.
Not one tear escapes His notice.
Not one tear escapes His notice.
Illustration
Illustration
People often judge one chapter of your story and think they know the whole book.
People often judge one chapter of your story and think they know the whole book.
God never does.
God never does.
He sees every chapter.
He sees every chapter.
He knows every hurt.
He knows every hurt.
He understands every burden.
He understands every burden.
Application
Application
Maybe you've smiled all week while carrying a heavy burden.
Maybe you've smiled all week while carrying a heavy burden.
Maybe no one else knows.
Maybe no one else knows.
Remember this:
Remember this:
People judge what they can see.
People judge what they can see.
God responds to what they cannot.
God responds to what they cannot.
Take your burden to the One who already understands.
Take your burden to the One who already understands.
II. BROKEN
II. BROKEN
God Draws Near to Broken Hearts.
God Draws Near to Broken Hearts.
Verse 10 says Hannah was deeply distressed.
Verse 10 says Hannah was deeply distressed.
She prayed.
She prayed.
She wept bitterly.
She wept bitterly.
Notice she didn't pretend everything was okay.
Notice she didn't pretend everything was okay.
She didn't hide her pain.
She didn't hide her pain.
She brought it honestly before God.
She brought it honestly before God.
Sometimes we think we need polished prayers.
Sometimes we think we need polished prayers.
God simply wants honest hearts.
God simply wants honest hearts.
Psalm 34:18 says,
Psalm 34:18 says,
"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted."
"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted."
Brokenness isn't something God rejects.
Brokenness isn't something God rejects.
It's often where He begins His greatest work.
It's often where He begins His greatest work.
Illustration
Illustration
In Japan there's an art called Kintsugi.
In Japan there's an art called Kintsugi.
When a valuable bowl breaks, they repair the cracks with gold instead of hiding them.
When a valuable bowl breaks, they repair the cracks with gold instead of hiding them.
The cracks become part of its beauty.
The cracks become part of its beauty.
That's what God does.
That's what God does.
The world throws broken people away.
The world throws broken people away.
God restores them.
God restores them.
Your broken places don't disqualify you.
Your broken places don't disqualify you.
They become places where God's grace shines brightest.
They become places where God's grace shines brightest.
Application
Application
What has broken your heart?
What has broken your heart?
A child?
A child?
A marriage?
A marriage?
Your health?
Your health?
A dream that never came true?
A dream that never came true?
Don't hide your pain from God.
Don't hide your pain from God.
Bring it to Him.
Bring it to Him.
He isn't looking for perfect people.
He isn't looking for perfect people.
He's looking for surrendered people.
He's looking for surrendered people.
III. RELIEF
III. RELIEF
God Gives Peace Before He Gives the Answer.
God Gives Peace Before He Gives the Answer.
Here's my favorite verse.
Here's my favorite verse.
After Hannah prayed, verse 18 says,
After Hannah prayed, verse 18 says,
"Her face was no longer sad."
"Her face was no longer sad."
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
She wasn't pregnant yet.
She wasn't pregnant yet.
Nothing had changed.
Nothing had changed.
Except Hannah.
Except Hannah.
She walked into the tabernacle carrying a burden.
She walked into the tabernacle carrying a burden.
She walked out carrying peace.
She walked out carrying peace.
Prayer doesn't always change your circumstances immediately.
Prayer doesn't always change your circumstances immediately.
Sometimes it changes you first.
Sometimes it changes you first.
Philippians 4 promises that when we pray, God's peace guards our hearts and minds.
Philippians 4 promises that when we pray, God's peace guards our hearts and minds.
Not because we have all the answers...
Not because we have all the answers...
But because we know the One who does.
But because we know the One who does.
Illustration
Illustration
Have you ever flown on an airplane through turbulence?
Have you ever flown on an airplane through turbulence?
The passengers panic.
The passengers panic.
The plane shakes.
The plane shakes.
Everyone grips the armrests.
Everyone grips the armrests.
But then you notice the flight attendants.
But then you notice the flight attendants.
They're calm.
They're calm.
Why?
Why?
Because they've been through turbulence before.
Because they've been through turbulence before.
They know the pilot.
They know the pilot.
Christian peace doesn't come because life is smooth.
Christian peace doesn't come because life is smooth.
It comes because we know who's flying the plane.
It comes because we know who's flying the plane.
God is still in control.
God is still in control.
Application
Application
Some of you have been praying about the same thing for years.
Some of you have been praying about the same thing for years.
Don't quit.
Don't quit.
God is working even when you can't see Him.
God is working even when you can't see Him.
He was preparing Samuel long before Hannah ever held him.
He was preparing Samuel long before Hannah ever held him.
God is always working behind the scenes.
God is always working behind the scenes.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Hannah came to God with lemons.
Hannah came to God with lemons.
Disappointment.
Disappointment.
Heartbreak.
Heartbreak.
Unanswered prayers.
Unanswered prayers.
She didn't leave with all her answers.
She didn't leave with all her answers.
She left with God's peace.
She left with God's peace.
Some of you came here carrying lemons today.
Some of you came here carrying lemons today.
Maybe it's fear.
Maybe it's fear.
Maybe it's grief.
Maybe it's grief.
Maybe it's a broken relationship.
Maybe it's a broken relationship.
Maybe it's a burden you've never shared with anyone.
Maybe it's a burden you've never shared with anyone.
God already knows.
God already knows.
People may misunderstand you.
People may misunderstand you.
God never will.
God never will.
People may overlook your tears.
People may overlook your tears.
God never does.
God never does.
And here's the greatest news.
And here's the greatest news.
Hannah prayed for a son...
Hannah prayed for a son...
and God gave her Samuel.
and God gave her Samuel.
Centuries later, God gave the world His Son.
Centuries later, God gave the world His Son.
Samuel changed a nation.
Samuel changed a nation.
Jesus changed eternity.
Jesus changed eternity.
Jesus carried our sins to the cross so that we could come boldly before the throne of grace.
Jesus carried our sins to the cross so that we could come boldly before the throne of grace.
Because of Christ, we never have to wonder if God hears us.
Because of Christ, we never have to wonder if God hears us.
He does.
He does.
Invitation
Invitation
What burden are you carrying today?
What burden are you carrying today?
Don't leave with it.
Don't leave with it.
Bring it to Jesus.
Bring it to Jesus.
Leave it at His feet.
Leave it at His feet.
The God who heard Hannah still hears His children today.
The God who heard Hannah still hears His children today.
ReCharge Challenge
ReCharge Challenge
Life will drain you.
Life will drain you.
Disappointment will drain you.
Disappointment will drain you.
Waiting will drain you.
Waiting will drain you.
Heartbreak will drain you.
Heartbreak will drain you.
But prayer reconnects you to the power and presence of God.
But prayer reconnects you to the power and presence of God.
So when life hands you lemons... don't become bitter. Become better.
So when life hands you lemons... don't become bitter. Become better.
Because when life leaves you uncharged... recharge through prayer.
Because when life leaves you uncharged... recharge through prayer.
