Mother’s Day 2023

Hannah endured the pain of barrenness for 19 long years. Each passing month brought with it a longing for a child, and then ended in disappointment. Hannah, like many of us, questioned God's plan for her life. Does God see me? Does he care? Where is he in the midst of this trial? Hannah could have turned her back on God, but instead, she turned toward him. Holding nothing back, she cried out to God. Her anguish was so profound that Eli, a priest, mistook her for being drunk. She replied, “Not so my lord… I am a woman deeply troubled… pouring out my soul to the Lord… praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” (1 Samuel 1:15–16) These were not superficial prayers; they were sincere, desperate, and specific. Eli replies, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:17).  What happened next is remarkable. Hannah surrendered her hope for a child and walked away full of faith. She had encountered God. Her circumstances remained unchanged, but she was transformed. Her spirits were uplifted, and she was unwavering in her confidence that God was with her. Her anxiety gave way to peace, her sorrow to joy, and her doubt to trust. Though her womb remained empty, her spirit was full.