An Unspoken Promise

“So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God's Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow: Oh, God -of-the-Angel-Armies, If you'll take a good, hard look at my pain, If you'll quit neglecting me and go into action for me By giving me a son, I'll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I'll set him apart for a life of holy discipline. It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God , Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, "You're drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!" Hannah said, "Oh no, sir—please! I'm a woman hard used. I haven't been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I've been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God . Don't for a minute think I'm a bad woman. It's because I'm so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I've stayed here so long." Eli answered her, "Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him." "Think well of me—and pray for me!" she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant.”

~1 Samuel 1:1-19 

Opposite genders…sometimes we just can't relate to them can we? The priest in this story doesn’t have a clue of what Hannah is going through. She has pain that literally hurts the heart.   Most women can understand, but anyone who has gone through this, truly knows Hannah's suffering.

I love how this story ends though. She tells the priest why she has so much sorrow and then she asks him to pray for her. Redemption just took effect.  Eli blesses her and she walks away able to eat again and radiant with joy. She was given an unspoken promise in her heart at that moment by the God who hears and when it was time to visit the Temple the next year, Hannah stayed home with her baby boy and eventually gave him to the Lord to serve in the Temple.

Even though we set our hearts to do the right thing and not accuse in our speech, it will happen. We've seen the last two days though through His Word that once we realize the mistake we've made, our next step is crucial if we want restoration to happen.

I love the story of Hannah! She was an incredible woman who was willing to return back what was never hers.  This is such a challenge to moms and such a wonderful thing to remember that when we come to him with purity of heart-He blesses us. Not always in the way that we might think, but there is always abundant blessing that fills us up!

I pray Father, for humility to make the right choices when I vomit words.

~Jeri Heintz