You're listening to Mountain View Church Audio, Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City, Whitehorse, UConn. Here's this week's message. When life hits hard and you're completely overwhelmed, where do you turn? You know those times when challenges seem to pile up just as you're struggling to get on your feet? When you think you can't handle anything else, then suddenly another burden is added to the weight that you're already carrying. Maybe for you it's a financial burden, maybe a health crisis.
Maybe it's a broken relationship or someone in your life who has actually chosen to make you the object of their disdain. They mock you or pick on you or ignore you. Perhaps for you, it's just the relentless pressure of everyday stress and anxiety over and over and over again. In those moments, it's so easy to look down and defeat, to feel stuck and weighed down and just want to give up. But what if there was a different way to respond? What if instead of looking down in discouragement, we could look up and find hope? That's what we're going to talk about today.
Welcome to Mountain View Church. My name is Jeremy. Whether you're here with us in person or joining online, I want to know that it is a privilege to have you with us. Please connect with our church community by visiting mountainview.church slash connect or by texting connect to the number on the screen, which is 867-322-8001. If you're in-house, please fill out one of those connect cards that are found under the seats in front of you and handed into the welcome desk on your way out. It's a great way for us to get to know you and share more of the various groups of ministries that we have going on here at Mountain View to see how you can get involved.
If you have children, we offer a children's program called Base Camp every Sunday morning at both the 9.30 and 11 a.m. gatherings. It's a fun way for your kids to learn and grow in their faith. Alternatively, you can download each week's video lesson activities at home at mountainview.church slash base camp. For our students out there, our youth group meets every Sunday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Junior high is on first and third Sundays and senior high on second and fourth Sundays. So if you have teens or preteens in your family, we'd love to get them connected with students their own age and help them grow in their relationship with Jesus. With all that being said, let's get back to today's topic.
connected to our current series called by God, empowered by faith, driven by purpose. We're going to unpack the story of a woman named Hannah, who faced a life of deep sorrow and strife. She carried the deep pain of not being able to have a child. To make matters worse, she was mocked for this burden that was totally out of her control. This carried on for years. Eventually, in her lowest moment, Hannah made a crucial choice. Instead of letting her pain pull her down and consume her, she chose to look up.
Hannah cried out to God, pouring out her heart in prayer. In her sadness, there was faith. She trusted that God was the only one who could truly help her. As Hannah looked up and prayed to God, he saw her face and heard her cry. Let's read about Hannah's story. I'll be reading from 1 Samuel 1, verses 1-11 in the ESV.
He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other was Penaniah. And Penaniah had children, but Hannah had no children. 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. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Penaniah, his wife, and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.
And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her because the Lord had closed her womb. 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. And Delcanna, 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? 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.
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 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. As we begin unpacking Hannah's story, it's important to highlight that this wasn't just some surface level sadness. Scripture states that she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And it makes sense, even to us in this modern era. It's a significant heartache for any woman who is unable to get pregnant. But the sorrow is even worse in ancient times. A woman who couldn't have children was shamed in the culture. The insult to injury in this situation is that Hannah shared a husband, Elkanah, with a second wife, Panina, who could have children. Now, Panina could have consoled Hannah in her sorrow, but instead she mocked her. Hannah was in a dark place experiencing terrible internal anguish. And it's in that moment that she teaches us a very important lesson. When life pulls you down, look up to God.
Even in her distress, Hannah didn't give up or turn away from God. She chose to look up and pour out her heart in a raw and honest prayer. This wasn't a woman who buried the pain of her circumstances. She chose to bring her pain directly to God. And in doing so, she made an important vow to the Lord. This vow wasn't just a desperate plea or a quick promise made in the heat of the moment. No, it was a deep commitment, reflecting her faith and devotion to God, even during her suffering. She prayed, 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.
Hannah's vow was a promise to dedicate her son to God for his entire life. The phrase, no razor shall touch his head, refers to the Nazarite vow, a special commitment to God's service, symbolized by not cutting one's hair. This was a major sacrifice for this mother. To put it plainly, Hannah was saying, God, if you give me this blessing, I won't cling to it selfishly. I will give him back to you.
Amazing. In that vow, Hannah displays her faith and trust in God. It wasn't just about receiving something from him to ease her suffering. There was something deeper in that prayer. This vow was a moment of surrender to him and surrender to his will, all that she longed for. In that vow, Hannah is acknowledging that ultimately everything, including the son she so desperately longed for, belongs to God.
Hannah's prayer reveals that getting what we want isn't the point of our journey with God. We should be aligning our hearts with God's will and offering him our greatest treasure. That's the selfless act of faith, demonstrating a deep reliance on God's plan and his purpose. That he's calling us to something greater, even in moments of pain, sorrow, and heartache. But Hannah's story isn't over there. In verse 13 and 14, we see that 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. And Eli said to her, how long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you. This is an interesting moment. Hannah is completely focused on her prayer. So much so that everything around her fades away. She didn't care about appearances. She didn't care about what others thought in that moment. She's desperate. She's desperate to reach God. So everything else slips away in that moment. Maybe you've been there. Have you had those prayers? Where on the outside, your lips are moving, but your voice is silent.
To someone watching you and awkwardly looking up and mumbling to yourself, maybe, you look drunk. You look like you're lost in your stupor. But on the inside, on the inside, something spiritual and supernatural is taking place. You're begging and pleading with God. If your voice were to be heard the way it was being yelled out in your mind and heart, it would carry on and out like as if you were calling out in an open valley.
You see, Hannah responds to Eli's accusation of drunkenness quickly and swiftly. He says, 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. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation. Maybe you've been there.
So Eli realizes her sincerity and he realizes her sobriety. He assures her that God has heard her prayer and offers her a blessing. He says, go in peace and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him. And she said, let your servant find favor in your eyes. And the woman went her way and ate and her face was no longer sad. You see, Eli's blessing led to a significant shift in Hannah's demeanor. What changed? Well, her circumstances hadn't changed, but something happened inside her heart.
She had poured out her heart and all the pain, and she had entrusted it to God and found a peace that replaced her sadness. She left that place with a newfound sense of hope that came out of her prayers. Your story may not be like Hannah's story, but I am certain that you're facing or you have faced trials in your life. Some of you have faced excruciating struggles. Maybe you're facing them right now. Some of you will face them in the future. All of us will at some point. And by the end of our lives, most of us will have walked through an overwhelming situation where everything fell apart and left us completely undone.
Maybe not exactly like Hannah, but like Hannah. In those moments, you try to hold it all together. And on the outside, everything might look fine. You interact with people and seem to be going on with life in a normal fashion. But on the inside, in your core, you are completely beaten down. And you feel like you're wasting away. You're struggling to find the purpose of getting up in the morning. In those moments, please, please don't give up. God is inviting you to look up. In your heartache, lift your eyes to him. Hold out your hands in submission and cry out to him. Be like Hannah.
Don't let the weight of your trial drag you down. Turn your pain into prayer. Trust God and submit everything to him. Me and my wife, Nicole, we just celebrated 23 years of marriage. Now, sometimes people assume that because I'm a pastor, our marriage must be wonderful all the time. That is absolutely not true. We struggle with the same issues as every other couple, finances, intimacy, raising kids, and all the other things of life that every couple faces.
Now, I assure you that there have been some incredibly difficult seasons of turmoil and sorrow. In our 10th year of marriage, for example, we faced a number of significant challenges. I remember feeling completely helpless and hopeless. And I know Nicole's been there too. I have memories at that time of leaning my head against the wall in mental and emotional agony.
And I remember another time sitting in my truck, looking up at the roof of my vehicle as if I could see through the ceiling, trying to find heaven with my eyes and my hands open and I'm begging for him to intervene in some way. Thankfully he did. Now it wasn't immediate and it wasn't exactly how I envisioned it, but he saw me and he heard me. He listened to my muttering against the wall and he heard me yelling in my vehicle. And like Hannah, anyone looking at me would have thought I was drunk in both cases. But as I look back at year 10 of our marriage and other times of heartache in my life, as terrible as they were to experience at the time, looking back, there's something amazing that I see. I've learned that the power I have, I should just completely give it up to him. Because when my will has been broken and I've laid everything down at his feet, that's when he comes to my rescue. That's when he comes to my rescue.
To be sure, it's not always how we might want it, or as quick as we want it. That's reality. And it almost always carries a very healthy dose of humility. Nevertheless, somehow, in the end, the money is provided, the conflict is resolved, the rescue arrives, and the peace and joy of God are restored. Now, I'm sure you're left wondering, wait a second, Jeremy, what happened to Hannah? How does the story end? Does she have a baby? Well, Scripture tells us that they rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord. Then they went back to their house at Ramah.
And Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 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. I hope you're noticing the progression here. Hannah's story goes from distress to prayer, then finding peace to God's provision. Hannah's story demonstrates the power of looking up to God when life pulls us down.
So in our lowest moments, when all our strategies and best laid plans have failed, God is waiting for our trust and submission. A trust and submission that is true and heartfelt in our core, not just lip service. Because God is faithful to hear and respond to our prayers in his timing, according to his perfect will and his purpose. As a side note, I would encourage you this week to sit down with a coffee or tea and read through the rest of 1 Samuel. Every Sunday, we give you a taste of the amazing scriptures that God has given to us with the goal that you will carry on learning and growing.
on your own, in your day-to-day life. You see, the Christian life isn't a spoon-fed faith. It's an intentional discipleship journey with Jesus through the power of God's Holy Spirit, which actually points us to something bigger. You see, Hannah's story is a pointer to a greater story. In her deep sorrow and anguish, Hannah chose to look up to God. She brought her pain, brokenness, and desperation before the Lord. She trusted that he was the only one who could help her. In that act of looking up, Hannah experienced God's faithfulness. But her story is more than just an answered prayer for a child.
It points to the deeper need that we all have. And it points to the greater story of God's faithfulness to all humanity. Just as Hannah faced the sorrow of her earthly loss, each of us faces an even deeper sorrow, our spiritual lost state and separation from God because of our sin. In moments of despair, when the weight of our poor decisions and brokenness consume us, God invites us to look up to him. But instead of just offering a temporary relief, he offers us an eternal hope and peace through his son, Jesus.
Hannah's surrender to God and his provision foreshadows the ultimate act of trust and surrender that Jesus demonstrated, followed by God's eternal provision. You see, Jesus came to earth to bridge the gap between us and a holy God and to heal our spiritual separation. In his life and death, Jesus demonstrated submission to his father, not only as an example for us, but also for our salvation. For example, when he stood before the tomb of his good friend Lazarus, surrounded by grief and loss, Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me. Even in mourning, Jesus looked up and trusted in his father's plan. Later, in the garden of Gethsemane, awaiting his arrest, torture, and execution, overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, Jesus prayed, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. Despite the intense pressure and suffering, Jesus kept looking up to God.
But his greatest act of looking up was witnessed as Jesus hung on the cross, bearing the weight of our sin and shame. The crowd looked at him and sneered and mocked while the soldiers gambled for his clothing. In that moment, Jesus cried out, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. You see, in his deepest agony, Jesus surrendered completely to his father's will, knowing the depth of our need, willingly taking on the weight of our sins so that we could be restored to God. Jesus died and was buried, fulfilling the mission his father set before him.
But maybe you're wondering, why? Why did Jesus do that? Well, Jesus knew what the Apostle Paul would later teach the church, that all people have sinned and all have fallen short of the glory of God. You see, sin separates us from a holy God, but in his love, God sent Jesus to bear the weight of our sin and offer us forgiveness through his sacrifice. He took our sin upon himself so that we could be reconciled to God. But the story doesn't end there. You see, Jesus didn't just die for our sins. Three days later, God raised him from the dead. In that conquering death and providing for us a way to eternal life, he has the power to give us new and eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Hannah's story points us to the greater story of God's redemption through Jesus Christ. Just as Hannah looked up to God in her earthly need, God calls every person, you and I, to look up to him in our spiritual need. He invites us to acknowledge our sin, accept the forgiveness he offers through Jesus, and trust in his plan for our lives, both earthly and eternal. When we look up in faith, we not only find relief from our pain, but we receive the hope of eternity. So with all that in mind, let me close with this one question. Is God calling you to look up?
Is he calling you to look up? Is he inviting you to pour out your heart and place your burdens at his feet? Just as God heard and responded to Hannah, he hears you as well. He isn't asking for inner strength or self-motivation. Quite the opposite. He's simply inviting you to turn to him in your weakness and trust him to provide the strength and everything else you need.
I'd encourage you wherever you are to open your hands to God and look up right now. Maybe you feel the need to get down on your knees. That's fine. Maybe you have a desire to stand, get closer to heaven in a sense. Whatever you want, do it. In that posture of either submission and honor or both, pray these words with me. Dear God, thank you for reminding me to look up to you when life pulls me down. Just as you heard Hannah, I ask that you would hear me now. You know my burdens and struggles.
And I ask you to bring relief to my sorrow. I acknowledge my sin and seek your forgiveness. I believe and declare that you sent your son, Jesus, to meet my eternal need so I can rely on you to meet my earthly needs. I place my trust and hope in Jesus. Help me turn my pain into prayer and my weakness into faith. In Jesus' name, amen. We would be honored to walk alongside of you as you continue your faith journey.
please, we want to be praying for you. Reach out to us at mountainview.church slash prayer or text prayer to 867-322-8001. And if you're in-house, please write that prayer request on a connect card and hand it to the welcome desk and one of our staff or ministry team, they'll get in touch with you. They'll get you connected. We want to be praying for you. Before we wrap up today, I'd invite you to stick around just a little bit longer. We have a few important updates followed by this week's discussion and prayer focus.
When children open their boxes, you can hear the laughter, the cheer. Jesus said, let the little children come to me. I want the children to know that Jesus Christ is alive, and he'll come into each and every heart that invites him. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to share the gospel with children around the world. Because we bring gifts to the children, the mothers and the fathers, except the Lord Jesus Christ. These boxes gives us a chance to show them that there is a light, that there is a truth.
Millions of children around the world are being impacted by these simple shoebox gifts, so we need to keep packing those boxes and continue to pray for the children around the world as we begin to disciple them. God bless you. Thank you. Hi, church. I'm Barbara. And I'm Rainbow. We're volunteers with Operation Christmas Child, and we attend Mountain View. We're passionate about the mission of OCC to bring the gospel of Jesus to children all over the world. Mountain View has been involved with this ministry for many years, and we invite you to join us again this year in packing more shoeboxes. You'll find the shoeboxes and a list of suggested items on the table at the back of the church and downstairs at base camp.
You'll also find a sign-up sheet for volunteer opportunities there. We're looking for volunteers to help receive shoeboxes from churches and other community groups during collection week, happening from Wednesday, November 20th, to Sunday, November 24th at Riverdale Baptist Church. If you'd like to contribute but are not into packing shoeboxes, you can donate or pack a shoebox online at samaritanspurse.ca. Filled shoeboxes can be brought back to Mountain View until Sunday, November 24th, after the second service. Finally, and most importantly, we appreciate your prayers. Your prayers are vital in sharing the love and hope of Christ with children, their families, and their communities in more than 100 countries around the world. If you have any questions, you can reach out to Rainbow, myself, or Carolee Johnson at uconnocc at gmail.com.
All right, lots going on, but it's time now for this week's discussion, question, and prayer focus. If you're watching or listening to this message with someone else, ask them this question. If you're online, you can write your answer in the comment box. Here we go. Where in your life is God calling you to look up and cry out to him? Where in your life is God calling you to look up and cry out to him? After you've shared a little bit with each other how God is calling you to look up, spend some time in prayer. Pray for God's help to look up to him in every tough situation that you might face.
pray for God's help to look up to him in every situation that you might face. Thank you so much for being here. Please come back next week as we continue our Called by God series. We are going to look at the life of David and a key moment when he chose to lift up and restore the ark of God's covenant and bring it to the city of David. This wasn't just a physical act. It was a declaration of honoring God's presence and prioritizing his place among the people of Israel. Together, we'll explore what it means to elevate God's presence in our lives and discover practical ways to honor him in everything we do. So if you're seeking to deepen your connection with God and understand how to bring his presence into the center of your life,
You don't want to miss this message. So invite a friend and let's continue answering God's call together. Lastly, again, thank you so much for choosing Mountain View Church. May God bless you and guide you as you look up to him this week. If you prayed to receive Jesus today or would like to connect with our church community, visit mountainview.church and click the connect link. If this podcast and radio ministry has been a blessing to you, please consider partnering with us or making a tax-deductible donation at mountainview.church. Thanks for listening to Mountain View Church Audio. Join us next week for more Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City, Whitehorse Supon.