Hannah's Hope: Standing Strong

What does it mean to be a person who “stands strong?” These type of people have many admirable traits and qualities, yet above all they have unwavering faith. They have determined in their hearts that no matter what the storms of life may bring their way, they will still choose to believe for a brighter tomorrow. Hannah is one of those incredible, inspirational individuals who despite great hardship chose to stand strong in the face of great adversity.  By doing so, her dream of becoming a mother came true and she has provided a stellar example for many to follow. Unable to conceive a child, she was heartbroken, and desperate. Her empty arms ached to cradle and nurture a child of her own. For years Hannah struggled with infertility and the cry of her heart was for the Lord to bless her with a child. 

In the Bible times, having many children was considered a sign of God’s abundant favor and special blessing upon a family. For this reason barrenness brought great shame and heartache especially on a woman. To make Hannah’s situation even more painful and humiliating, her husband Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah had many children and took great pleasure in flaunting this to Hannah on a regular basis. Hannah was discouraged, but not hopeless. She was anxious but not lost with no direction. Hannah knew that her hope was in God and she refused to allow doubt and fear to extinguish this hope she held so close to her heart. 

One day she journeyed to the tabernacle in Shiloh to pray and earnestly seek God’s blessing for a son. Not only did she pray for a son, but she promised God that one day if He granted her a baby boy that when the time was right she would give him back to God in faithful service. The priest Eli overheard her praying with such intensity that at first he was confused and thought she was intoxicated. As Hannah explained her situation, Eli was touched by her story and immediately blessed her and prayed fervently that God would grant her request. It is understood that this encounter was a true turning point for Hannah as she left with a renewed assurance that the dream of having a son was very soon to become a joyous reality. If her faith had ever wavered during weak moments, it was now steadfast. 

God looked with compassion on Hannah’s situation and blessed her with a son whom she named Samuel which means “I have asked for him from the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:20) Samuel brought Hannah great joy and personal fulfillment as a mother, yet she did not forget her promise to God. When Samuel was weaned which was described as being typically between the ages of two and five at that time, she took him to the temple to be raised by Eli the priest. I cannot imagine that journey and how her heart must have been breaking to know that this was her last moments together as mother and son. When she arrived at the temple the Bible states that she shared “I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him, so therefore I have lent him to the Lord. For as long as he lives he is lent to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:28) The Bible speaks of Hannah returning each year to visit Samuel at the tabernacle to present him with a special cloak that represented priestly status. Hannah stood strong in her belief that she served a God who answered prayer. She stood strong that he would bless her with a son. She stood strong that when the time was right God would provide her with the strength to fulfill her promise to God and give Samuel back to God. Just imagine how hard that would be to finally have a child and to know that you must eventually give him up. What a bittersweet time for Hannah, yet God honoured her for her faithfulness. Hannah stood strong in the knowledge that the God who loved her enough to answer her prayer would be with her in her heartbreak when she had to give Samuel up. The Bible speaks of God’s blessing and compassion for Hannah’s selfless sacrifice as the once barren woman went on to have five more children after Samuel. 

Of all the women in the Bible, the story of Hannah has always struck a strong chord with me. Infertility is a very common problem in today’s society and Hannah is to be admired for many reasons. She like many women had a strong desire to have a child, yet rather than suffer in silence she took her heavy heart to God. She refused to focus on negative influences but envisioned a different reality for herself. Like Hannah, I had always dreamed of being a mother and spent much of my childhood playing with dolls and imagining the big family I would once have. In my mind it was an expectation and assumption. It had never even entered my mind that having children could be a challenge for me one day. My husband Phil and I had been married for two years and decided to start trying to have a baby. We were filled with excitement and great anticipation of all the joy this little person would bring to us. Excited chatter filled our home about the precious gift from God who was soon to occupy not only our nursery but also our hearts! Never would I have imagined that not once but three times, we would conceive a child and it would tragically end in miscarriage. I like Hannah would cry out to God at the altar at church and petition him for a child. Our nursery remained empty and although I believed in God’s faithfulness, I remember one very discouraging day sitting in the lonely nursery and crying. My husband found me there and I voiced my greatest concern that a baby would never occupy that room. We cried and prayed agreeing together that a baby would come into our lives and that fear and doubt would be forever gone. A turning point occurred for us that night, and just like Hannah’s encounter with Eli, we felt encouraged and hopeful. 

Several months later we found out that I was pregnant again. Excited yet nervous we received special care due to my history and to our relief my pregnancy progressed without incident.  On January 10th, 1996 my dream came true! I became a mom to a baby boy just like Hannah and we named him Tyler Matthew. Two years later we had a daughter named Shannon Nicole. God is so faithful! 

I remember at Tyler’s dedication service I read the scripture that Hannah had shared of how she had prayed for this child and how like her we were now giving him back to God. I also sang to Tyler and it was a very emotional and powerful moment for me. My heart was so full of thanksgiving for the precious son that God had given me. I really connected with Hannah. 

We never imagined that our lives would be forever changed by pregnancy loss. Sadly we are not alone as miscarriage and pregnancy loss is widespread.  Fortunately however, there is good news too as we also live in an era of incredible medical technology. Many couples who previously would have had no hope of conceiving a child, have now been able to realize their deepest desire of  becoming parents and that is so incredible. God brought Hannah through this trial and she stood strong. God brought my husband and I through infertility and miscarriage and we stood strong. This trial has allowed us to minister to others in ways that we would never have thought possible. I even wrote and published a book on grief and loss that others have shared has been very instrumental in their healing process. It is true as it says in God’s word in Psalms 126:5 that “He turns our tears to joy.”  

Be encouraged. Maybe your struggle is not with infertility but something very different. Be assured we serve a God that knows our needs and desires and He wants to answer them. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:8 that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” That means what He did for Hannah, He can do for you for whatever you are facing. Stand strong like Hannah. Don’t let others get you down. Refuse to give up and keep on praying until something happens. We serve an awesome God and He is able to meet your needs today. Rest in that assurance and anticipate the wonderful plan that God has for you. Just like Hannah God is birthing something in you and your story has only just begun.

About the Author :

Dana Romualdi is a christian elementary school teacher and former clinical social worker. She has recently written and published her first book called Magic Kisses A Grief Journey From Heartache to Hope which has been created to assist bereaved families in their recovery process. It is available on her website with her weekly blog at: www.littlelessonslearnedbydana.weebly.com. She is happily married to Phil and is the mother of two awesome teenagers, Tyler and Shannon.

Naomi: When Life Seems Bitter

After Naomi had lost everything (read Ruth chapter 1), she decided to go back to her home country. Ruth, of course, remained by her side. When the two of them got to Bethlehem, Naomi’s home town, she was immediately greeted by familiar faces. Instead of being overjoyed, she told them to call her Mara, “Bitter,” instead of Naomi, “Pleasant,” because the Lord had “dealt bitterly with her”. Why would someone ever want to be called “Bitter”? In verses 10-12, Naomi says the following:

“Don’t call me Naomi; call me Bitter. The Strong One has dealt me a bitter blow. I left here full of life, and God has brought me back with nothing but the clothes on my back. Why would you call me Naomi? God certainly doesn’t. The Strong One ruined me.” (MSG)

“The Strong One ruined me.” I cannot tell you how often I have felt that way this year. Sometimes, life just deals us a bad bet, and during those times, one often wonders why God lets these things happen to us. Throughout the last few months, God has been dealing heavily with my heart, stripping me of bitterness and self-pity, and has given me a few revelations about trials and tribulations. Allow me to share a few of them with you.

The apostle Paul had a thorn in his side (2 Cor. 12:8-10).What that thorn was, I do not know, but I do know that it was painful and he begged God to remove it. Instead of removing it, God taught Paul a more valuable lesson that stayed with him for the rest of his life. “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” In our weakest times, God’s sovereign strength is displayed in and through our lives – even though it is painful and we want it to end. I encourage you to read this scripture on your own (I love the MSG translation).

Before being crucified, Jesus told His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world.” (John 6:33) This speaks for itself. We need to take heart, and find our peace in Jesus in the midst of life’s storms. Hard is it may be, we must never let go of Him.

Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Another verse that speaks for itself. There is a greater glory to be revealed in us than in our present sufferings. God forms our character through trials.

At the end of the day, we will be able to look back at our present struggles and thank God for taking us through those difficult seasons. We will be so much stronger and more mature in our faith. “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” (James 1:2-4) 

God is God through the bad times, as He is God through the good times. This is a great lesson that we can learn from Job. His wife was angry at God and wanted him to curse Him, but instead he told her, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10)

The well-known Gospel hymn, “It is Well With My Soul” was written by a man who was in the midst of trial and tribulation. Horatio Stafford had lost his son, lost his wealth, lost his daughter and nearly lost his wife in a ship wreck. Can you imagine how he must have felt? Lost, discouraged, heartbroken; and yet, he was still able to keep bitterness against God from his heart and wrote the words, “it is well with my soul”. My dear sister, though it seems as if everything around you is falling apart, never forget that there is One that can give you hope and comfort. Never forget His promises that are faithful and true, and that He holds your precious life and future in His capable hands. Be assured of your salvation in Jesus Christ, and know that though it feels as if you are losing your very self, it is still well with your soul because of Him. Your faith in God will sustain you, precious daughter of God. The seas may rage around you, but Jesus is ever-present. Just run into His presence. 

Today, like Naomi, you may feel like God has dealt bitterly with you, but I encourage you to hold onto Jesus with everything you have – and guard against a bitter heart. With the little strength that you have left, do not let go of your God and trust that He will work everything out for your good – just like He did for Naomi. He promises that if we do not give up in doing good, we will reap the rewards (Galatians 6:9).

About the Author :

Danelle Vingtas, wife and mother, is the Founder of South African based young women’s ministry, Proverbs 31 Sisterhood. Through her testimony she is determined to show the love of Jesus to the young women of this generation.

Gomer: Scandalous Love

If you were reading in the Bible for a woman of strength, beauty, and inspiration, I doubt you’d settle on Gomer and say “this one!” Gomer was a bit scandalous.

You see, Gomer was a prostitute. She was even arguably a sex addict before sex addiction was something all the celebrities suffered from. She was dirty and lost.

You can read about Gomer in the book of Hosea. Hosea was her husband and also, a prophet. But in case you’re not familiar, here’s a little bit about what we learn about Gomer, and her marriage to Hosea, and the role God played in it from the Bible:

God spoke to Israel through a series of prophets in the Old Testament, in this case, Hosea. He told Hosea to go and marry a prostitute who would represent Israel and the way Israel had betrayed God by chasing other gods and idols.

So Hosea married Gomer. Depending on how you read it, it is speculated that Gomer may have already had children as a byproduct of her occupation; she very well could have been a single mom, and Hosea would have been inheriting the children of her adulterous lovers by marrying her. Together, we know that Hosea and Gomer had at least three children, and God gave them all very odd names: Jezreel, which meant punishment for Israel; Lo-Ruhamah, meaning ‘no love;’ and Lo-Ammi, which meant that Israel was not God’s people and God was not their God.

Why in the world such dark and dramatic names? Well, history tells us that it was common in that time period for people to name their children after the circumstances surrounding their births, but God wanted them to wake up His people, and He was going to use Hosea, Gomer, and their marriage and family to do it. 

When Hosea married Gomer, the Hollywood-romance-movie-buff in me would like to have read a Pretty Woman kind of story that portrayed Hosea as the Richard Gere and Gomer as the Julia Roberts – this knight in shining armor (or prophet of God in this case) sweeps this prostitute off her feet and rescues her from her life of slavery to her profession and her lovers. But not Gomer. She actually chose to continue to work as a prostitute and cheat on her husband. She chased after other lovers and pagan gods rather than being faithful to her husband and God. 

What I love about Gomer, though, and one of the reasons why I chose her, is that even when she took off on her own and was doing everything imaginable to escape her husband and God, God still had His hand on her and He was still in control. He knew what she was doing, but He saw the bigger picture. 

Hosea 2:6-7: “Therefore I will block her path with thorn bushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’”

Hosea 2:14-17: “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and make the Valley of Anchor (literally, Anchor means ‘trouble’) a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt (slavery, bondage). In that day, declares the LORD, You will call me ‘my husband;’ you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ I will remove the names of the Baals (idols) from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.” 

God let her go. She chose her idols and her sin, but He let her go there. He said He would lead her into the desert – He allowed her to see what her sin would bring her: dry, barren, nothingness. But His sovereignty never left her; He still had control. He put up road blocks to protect her from getting too far. He used the choices she made for her good, to bring her back to Hosea, to bring her back to Himself. He was going to make her life of trouble a gateway to the life of hope He had planned for her.

Hosea 2:19-23: “I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. In that day I will respond, declares the LORD… I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘not my people,’ ‘you are my people;’ and they will say ‘You are my God.” 

Hosea 3:1:”The Lord said to me (Hosea), ‘Go, show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”

Though he surely suffered emotionally at her hand, Hosea’s love and devotion to Gomer in the wilderness of her choice is was God’s way of illustrating His love and devotion to us, even when we choose our own wildernesses. But His sovereignty never leaves us, because there is a love out there that looks beyond what we have done, are doing, and will do. There is a love that is relentlessly pursuing us, despite our promiscuity with our idols. His name is Jesus. 

Much like Hosea was likely jealous for his wife, Jesus is jealous for His bride. Us

And now, I want to be plain: jealousy is different from envy, which the Bible does advise is sinful. When someone is jealous for something, they want what belongs to them that someone else currently has. When someone is envious for something, they want what belongs to someone else that they don’t have.  

God is jealous for us and is pursuing our hearts in a furious and loving way like we’ve never known. All the while, we’ve been acting as Gomers to our sin, mistreating our union to Him, and giving our hearts, and maybe even our bodies, to something or someone to whom they don’t belong. But our hearts were created by and undoubtedly belong to God and He is constantly seeking for us, longing to reach us to get us to a place that He can love us an show us our worth and value, no matter what we’ve done to hurt Him. He longs to restore us to Himself, to repair the union that sin broke. 

So when I was asked to choose a woman who was “still standing” from the Bible, why did I choose Gomer? Because, Gomer is us all. And what Gomer could not see or do for herself, God did for her. Gomer doesn’t even have a leg to stand on compared to some of the women of her time – she came from the bottom of the pit, if you know what I mean. But that didn’t matter to God. She was chosen, she had purpose, and her story would be used to bring Him glory. He worked amazing things in her broken and messed up life, and He is still reaching out to thousands of His children through her testimony. And it’s that very thing that He will do in us. God will take our brokenness, He’ll take our pain, and He’ll take our sin. He will use His love and compassion to speak tenderly to us, removing the stains that our former idols have left on our lips and on our hearts, and in return, we will sing His praises. And He will restore us and make us whole… until He finally reunites us with our bridegroom divine: Christ Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 11:2: “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.”

About the Author :

Samantha Iammarino is a story-teller by nature, currently navigating marriage, motherhood, and ministry. She is an avid coffee drinker and writes… a lot. Samantha loves Jesus, being an artist, and sharing love and truth through her ministry, the be.you.ty project, for which she is the founder and photographer.

Ruth: Remaining Faithful During Hardships

Up until two months ago, it was easy for me to view the trials I went through as being temporary. I knew they were just a season that would soon pass.

I guess that was the writer in me: I tend to see my life as a story. And in a story, characters have to go through hardships. If it wasn’t for those hardships then there would be no story. 

Two months ago, however, my faith was stretched. It has become harder to maintain this outlook after my doctor diagnosed me with type 1 diabetes. 

Yes, there have been times when I was tempted to get angry with God, tempted to ask Him what I did to deserve this disease. 

But do you know what? That kind of approach isn’t going to help anything—instead, it’s only going to make it worse. 

After recently reading the book of Ruth, I felt kind of silly for this attitude. Because even though Ruth had lost her husband, she didn’t allow herself to remain in self-pity. 

In fact, it was just the opposite: Ruth was more concerned about her mother-in-law, Naomi. Not only had Naomi lost both of her sons, but she had lost her husband as well. And even when Naomi told Ruth that she could go back to her hometown, Ruth insisted on staying with her mother-in-law during that season of grief. 

The attitude Ruth maintained during this season amazes me. She didn’t allow the death of her husband to keep her from moving forward; instead, as soon as Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, she started to work. Ruth gleaned fields all day without even taking a break (Ruth 2:7). 

I think far too often we allow our lives to beat us down and to keep us there. 

Bad day at school? The world says you have every right to be in a bad mood. Shut yourself in your bedroom, scream into a pillow. Grow resentment towards God since He is apparently the one who caused this to happen. 

Of course, I’m not saying it’s wrong to grieve. In fact, it’s healthy. 

Just don’t allow your grief to turn into a constant state of self-pity. Don’t let the stumbling blocks keep you from moving forward into what God has planned for you. 

Although I don’t know why I was diagnosed with diabetes, I need to remind myself that God has a greater plan. Has it been rough? Of course. And no, staying positive during this time does not come naturally—but that does not mean it’s impossible.

If it hadn’t been for Ruth’s attitude, she wouldn’t have received the rewards that came along with it. If she had allowed grief to keep her from moving on in life, she wouldn’t have met her future husband while she was working in a field.

God rewards our hard work, faithfulness, and obedience, especially when we go through seasons of trials. 

  

After Ruth married Boaz, she and her mother-in-law’s joy was completely restored when Ruth gave birth to a son.

Ruth 2:20 (MSG):

“Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘Why, God bless that man! God hasn’t quite walked out on us after all! He still loves us, in bad times as well as good!’”

And guess what? It was out of this family lineage that Jesus was born. Ruth would have never become an ancestor of Christ had it not been for her faithfulness.

So when we go through adversities, let us remind ourselves of what Boaz told Ruth in Ruth 2:12 (MSG):

“God reward you well for what you’ve done—and with a generous bonus besides from God, to whom you’ve come seeking protection under his wings.”

Keep going. Don’t give up. 

The reward is sure to come.

About the Author :

Tessa E. Hall is a 19-year-old author of Purple Moon, her YA Christian fiction novel, published September 2013 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She has a passion for youth ministry, especially in the area of the written word. She also loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.

Esther: For Such A Time As This

My life as I had known it was falling apart. The one man I loved so deeply, my grandpa, was unexpectedly called home to be with the Lord. The so-called marriage I was in had completely and irreparably disintegrated.  

Suddenly, I was alone with a house in foreclosure and forced to file bankruptcy.  I was abandoned by friends and incomprehensibly written off by my very own family. Feeling completely isolated from those that claimed to love me, I was overwhelmed and felt I had no place to turn.  It was all too much to handle.  Why was I in this situation? What had I done to deserve life in such a lonely place?   Bitter tears flowed like a river, as my heart cried out in pain.    

And, then, I remembered the story of Esther. 

Esther was a beautiful Jewish girl living in Babylon.  An orphan, her cousin, Mordecai, adopted her. He provided the family that she never had, or in my case, had lost.

Unbeknownst to her, the entire Jewish race was in danger of being annihilated from the face of the earth.  Why she seemed destined to lose her very heritage, until her life took an unexpected turn. 

She was one of the virgins chosen to prepare for the possibility of one day becoming queen.  In order to “compete,” she had to leave behind everyone and everything she had ever loved or known.

Thus, Esther was whisked away to be pampered and “made-over” for a period of one year preparing for the big contest.  

What if the king were to break the long tradition of choosing a wife from one of the seven most important families in Persia?  What if, he, instead, chose Esther to be his wife, and, thus, the queen?  

I doubt seriously if Esther ever once considered this life for herself.  Her wildest dreams could not have taken her down this path, on this journey. 

Esther did go before the king.  He did choose her as his wife.  She did become queen.  

Oh, but the story does not end here.  It, is, actually, just beginning.

Queen Esther uncovers, with Mordecai’s help, a most insidious and diabolical plot to murder all of the Jews. 

Concocted by the second most powerful man in the entire kingdom, the evil Haman’s intentions were shocking beyond belief. He was going to kill every Jew by hanging them, beginning with Mordecai. 

Truly, she and her cousin were preparing to take some unprecedented risks.

These proposed actions were outrageously audacious for a seemingly insignificant young Jewish girl and her “family,” Mordecai.

Once again, Esther was in a dilemma. As queen, she could not go before the king without being summoned.  In fact, if she did, it was possible that her “husband” would order her execution.  But, the king had to be aware.  To remain quiet was not an option for Queen Esther.

Cousin Mordecai was quick to point out this fact.

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

I am convinced that Esther would never have pictured herself in such a circumstance, or entertain the slightest notion that she could hold the lives of the Jewish nation in her hands. 

  

Was this the life she would have mapped out?

Unequivocally, I am convinced; her answer would have been “No.”

But, Esther did go before the king.  She did warn him of his servant’s devious plot.  She did choose to walk in the fullness for which she was created.

As a consequence, Haman was hung on the very gallows he had built to kill the Jews and Esther’s people were saved.

“For such a time as this?”

Perhaps, this same question is one that we ALL should ponder in our hearts and minds.

What if all of the circumstances in our lives are allowed by our Heavenly Father, Papa, to prepare us for some similar Esther-like mission? What if we are being “made over” to equip us for life’s difficult choices?  Just maybe, Father God is growing our faith and maturing us to “Stand before the king?”

How do I know these things?

I am Esther.

I did lose everything.  I was “adopted” into a family that Papa has chosen for me.  I am standing before “the King,” ready and willing to do His bidding.  

I know what it is like to have everything stripped away down to the core of my being and to leave everything familiar behind. 

I do have a heart of compassion for others who may be struggling.  I will reach out to them in love as an encourager.

With heart overflowing, I am here “For Such a Time as This.”

About the Author :

Teena is her name, but she has fallen in love with the nickname, “graciE” her husband gave her. God, who she refers to as Papa, is the focus of her life. Her heart yearns to draw closer to him, moment by moment, through Bible study, prayer, photography and writing.