faith in suffering

In a hedonistic society like ours, it is difficult for many of us to see any redeeming value in suffering especially our own suffering. We like our day to run smoothly and we definetely like comfort over pain. So any talk about the blessings that might come from buffetings sounds rather platitudinous to most and at best something to which we pay lip service as long as we are not the ones suffering. But the scriptures are full of stories about people who went through tough times, endured pain and discomfort but in the end were stronger people and actually received enormous blessings. People like Joseph, Moses, and Job immediately come to mind, but I would like to focus on Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel.

This woman seemed to have it better than most women. Although unable to get pregnant, she was her husband's favorite. They seemed to be doing well enough financially especially since her husband, Elkanah, was able to support two wives. He seemed to be devout and an honorable man(he payed his vows I Sam 1:21), which I'm sure made life more than tolorable for everyone in the family. But Hannah was not a happy camper. The women of her time and culture, found enormous fulfillment in bearing children. To be barren was like a curse, an intolerable stigma and matters were exceedingly exacerbated if you were constantly provoked by "the other woman" in her husband's life. Elkanah's other wife gave him chidren and like some other women in the Bible,she ridiculed Hannah who couldn't. And we are told that the Lord was responsible for Hannah's misery because he had " closed her womb."(I Sam 1:6). You might say that Hannah had a problem.

Why would the Lord do such a thing? Before we can judge God, we better show our credentials for being qualified to be God's counselor let alone his accuser(see Job 40:1,2). I certainly am not qualified to put God on the dock, but the Bible tells us that Hannah did endure suffering for a good cause, her own and the well being of all Israel. The Lord was going to give Israel a deliverer who would unite all the tribes and become a great kingmaker(Samuel anointed both Saul and David). But Samuel needed a special mother, an intercessor, a godly woman chastened by her continual pleading with the Lord for a son even to the point of being willing to dedicate him to the service of the Lord. So Hannah desperately wanted a son, but God wanted HER and her son. Hannah's misery deepened her walk with the Lord.  

Like so many of these stories in the Bible, this story has a happy ending. Hannah finally got pregnant. After the birth of Samuel, this saintly woman had six more children(I Sam. 2:5) and seven is always a sign of perfection. In Hannah's case it was perfect fulfillment. And Israel was given a child that would grow up to be the leader she needed. Are you troubled today? Let the Lord work it out. There's no telling how marvelous His plan is for you and yours. Be patient in tribulation because "tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience,hope, and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."(Romans 5:3-5 KJV). Amen!