The Gift of Motherhood

Happy Mother’s Day

1 Samuel 1:10–11 KJV 1900

10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.

Introduction

Today is Mother’s Day, and I want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers. You are a special gift from Almighty God. Although my mother is no longer among us, I thank God for the gift of mother.

Furthermore, I am thankful for the time He gave her to me and my siblings, and that we cherished her to the very end. If you still have your mother, please, please make sure you let her know that you love and appreciate her.

Today, our text comes to us from the book of I Samuel, Chapter 1. It’s an historical account of the birth of the prophet/priest Samuel. We learn from the text that his mother’s name was Hannah and his father’s name was Elkanah.

Each time I read this text, I gain a richer appreciation for the Gift of Motherhood, which is what I want to share with you today. As we look at Hannah’s story, I want to talk for a few moments about her Pain, her Prayer, and her Promise.

Her Pain

Vv. 1-8 – Elkanah, Hannah, and Peninnah

Although the text does not say it, I am convinced that what started out so lovely and wonderful turned into pain and misery. As wonderful and lovely as marital love may be, it is not without its struggles and challenges. Amen, somebody.

I believe if Hannah was here, she would say, Amen. For Hannah knew something about pain. However, her pain was not of a physical nature. She was not the victim of spousal abuse, as so many are. Her husband Elkanah was far from a wife-beater, but rather a loving, gentle, and generous man. (v.8)

Hannah’s pain was intangible and emotional, and it manifested itself from within and without. The pain within related to her deepest desire for motherhood that she could not achieve. (v.5)

I am convinced that she and Elkanah tried and tried for a long time, but it just was not to be. The text says that the reason she could not conceive is because God had closed her womb. This tells me that motherhood is a gift from God and something to be desired.

I should pause right here and say, no woman is able to conceive and bear children unless the Lord opens her womb. Motherhood is a gift that only God can give. It’s not the doctor’s pills or the procedures, but by God’s grace. Amen, somebody.

However, Elkanah had a problem—he needed a seed to perpetuate his posterity, and the love of his life could not produce it. Therefore, he took on another wife, Peninnah, and she bore him children.

This was the pain from without. For Hannah’s pain was intensified by the constant taunting of Peninnah, the other wife. (This is where most women would lose it.)

Nevertheless, Hannah did not allow her pain to derail her devotion to God. She continued to go up to Shiloh to worship the True and Living God. She did not give up on God, but rather she stretched out on God.

Now, your pain may not be like Hannah’s pain, but pain is pain. The question is, what do you do with your pain? Do you handle it or does it handle you?

Here are some ways people choose to deal with the pain and disappointments in their lives:

Self-medicate (drugs and alcohol)

Destructive behavior (promiscuous sex, violence against others or self, including suicide)

Psychic Reader

While some of these choices may dull the pain or provide temporary comfort, at best, they only address the symptoms but not the problem. To solve a problem, you need a problem solver. God is a problem-solver and a way maker.

I can hear the songwriter say,

“Trust in Him who will not leave you Whatsoever years may bring If by earthly friends forsaken Still more closely to Him cling”

“Hold to God's unchanging hand”

Her Prayer

V.10, “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.”

At her lowest point, bearing the weight of her pain and disappointment, Hannah leaves us an example of how we should deal with the pain and disappointment in our lives. How did she deal with it? Well first, let me say what she didn’t do:

She didn’t curse Peninnah or become violent with her and her children.

She didn’t curse her husband Elkanah and threaten to divorce him or leave the house.

Neither did she blame or accuse God of any wrong-doing.

Instead, she went to the place of worship and prayed—pouring out her soul to the only one who could solve her problem. She prayed to God, because she believed that He was a prayer hearing and a prayer answering God. Hello somebody.

Jesus said, “Men ought to always pray and not faint.” Luke 18:1

Paul said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

Is there anybody out there who knows that God answers prayer? Is there anybody that out there who knows that God is just one prayer away?

“God is just one prayer away. He’s never too busy for what you have to say. Just call Him up night or day. God is just one prayer away, God is just one prayer away.”

I don’t know how you handle your pain and disappointment, but I suggest you take a page out of Hannah’s book on Pain Management, and, take to the Lord in prayer. “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there."

Don't just sit at home. Get up and go to the place where God has established as a place of worship and prayer and pour out your petitions to Him there.

Her Promise

V.11, “And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”

The text says, Hannah “vowed a vow,” which means she made a solemn promise to the Lord. She promised God that if He gave her a son, she would respond by dedicating him back to Him for his entire life as a Nazarene.

This was no hasty vow nor a vow made in consultation with Elkanah her husband, Eli the priest or anybody else. She went into her personal prayer closet and let her request be made known unto God. Hannah put it all in His Hands.

God answered Hannah’s prayer, and He will also answer yours according to His will. The psalmist writes:

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4

Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (10) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Luke 11:9-10

If you don’t receive anything else from this message, receive this, take time to pray. Learn to cast all of your cares upon God, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

When God blessed Hannah with the Gift of Motherhood, she kept her promise. God gave her a son named Samuel, who became a great Prophet, Priest, and Judge in Israel.

Conclusion

Have you kept the promises that you have made unto the Lord?

Thank God for mothers—especially godly mothers, who give God the glory and strive to train their children in godliness. Although motherhood may be filled with pain and disappointment along the way, take heart.

For Jesus has promised that He would never leave you nor forsake you. God has already demonstrated His love for us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. But, I am so glad that the story does not end there. Because three days later Jesus rose from the dead with all power in heave and earth in His hands. Thank God for the gift and thank God for the gifted. However, more than anything, we thank the Giver of the gift to the gifted. Amen and Happy Mother’s Day