Key Scripture: 1 John 3:14
The dictionary defines gracious as “pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous.” When Hannah’s womb was closed, she was so desperate for a child that she promised to return him to God if her request was granted. Her benevolence is display when she keeps her word by returning her son, Samuel to God after his birth. Because of her sacrifice, the Lord showed favor to Hannah by blessing her with more children. Hannah made her request known to God from the very beginning. She went straight to the source of who could really help her.
From Hannah we can learn the importance of starting with God first instead of as a last resort. Take some time to answer one or all of the questions below for this WOB:
1. What response does Hannah’s childlessness cause In Hannah? In Peninnah? in Elkahan?
2. How have you responded to disappointments or failures in your life?
3. In Samuel 1:9-14, Hannah stood in this very public place and poured out her pain to the Lord. Notice Eli’s reaction. Do you think she was unaware of the reaction others might have, or do you think she just didn’t care?
4. When has God answered your prayers after a time of disappointment or difficulty? When have your prayers gone unanswered? How did God provide in those troublesome times?
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4 comments:
When has God answered your prayers after a time of disappointment or difficulty? How did God provide in those troublesome times?
These questions hit home for me, I just had to respond!!:-)
Just recently I had to deal with a hurtful and disappointing situation. Being falsely accused and having past sins brought back up was hurtful and disapoointing to me. During that time I went straight to the Lord with my prayers, although I was angry, I knew that God had already forgiven me of my past sins and He wouldn't turn away from me. My disappointment came when that very sin was thrown back in my face months later causing turmoil in my life and someone elses. But as usual God answered my prayers, he put spiritual people around me that very same weekend, and I slowly got thru it. I felt I needed to distance myself from people and feel okay about doing so. That was my prayer and obviously I made the right choice in my decision because I am back!!! It is nice and feels really good to have people on your side that will not judge you regardless of the mistakes you have made, especially in the past.
I just want all the ladies in here to know, if you cannot be an encouragement to others, please by all means, leave them alone. Everyone has burdens to bare, and unecessary "junk" only adds to the fuel that is already burning in our hearts.
Someone sent the following to me in an email. While all of it does not directly relate to Peninnah, it did make me think about some of the things women do to each other. We as sisters in Christ should also be mindful of these things; confess our shortcomings, and ask God to create in us a clean heart that we might be more Christ like.
Things Women Do To Each Other
by Norka Blackman-Richards | Circle Sister
It's become the silent emotional killer among women. Women who are downright mean, malicious and disrespectful with each other. This trend is creating havoc in our relationships with each other, for it strikes the core of sisterhood. Real sisterhood can only exist when respect and trust stand unshakeable. In this particular, most men are quite opposite to us. For a man, a brother is a brother is a brother. However, what is most disturbing about our malicious ways is that we are passing on a legacy of a broken sisterhood to our daughters. Girls that are mean and catty are usually this way because their understanding is that this is a normal part of femaleness.
They grow up to become mean and catty women who perpetuate a diseased sisterhood. To break this cycle we each need to make a conscious effort to validate all women. Be they our friends or not. Otherwise, we will continue to find ourselves moving within circles of female hostility, suspicion, and pain. Here is my list of the most detestable practices that we need to discontinue in order to heal our sisterhood:
1. Talking about each other - You are really not her friend if what you have to say about her is so bad you can't say it in front of her. If you are a real friend you should be able to tell her your concerns for her life to her face. If you have the need to tell others, but you haven't found the time to tell her - red lights should be flashing. Believe it or not, gossiping is not an intrinsic part of being female. Women who gossip do it not because it's a woman-thing, but because they want to elevate themselves and put other women in a place of inferiority. Gossiping is just another symptom of deeper insecurities.
2. Fighting for men - One of the most undignified things that any woman can do is to fight, argue, or curse another woman over a man. It's a disgusting trend that used to be a school girl thing, but today adult women are doing it too. If both of you are in conflict - because his choice is not clear - then that means that he's really not into either of you. He's probably playing both of you. That man really does not deserve love or attention from either one of you. Let him go.
3. Joining female gangs/ Cliques - Women who make you feel unwelcome and unwanted within their circle of friends are not to be trusted. Women cliques have become common in the workplace, at church, in the neighborhood. Cliques are the dwelling place of insecure women. Women who join cliques are seeking refuge from their own lack of confidence by cocooning themselves within this circle of supposed exclusivity. Again, the need to belong to, or be part of a clique is also a sign of deeper insecurities. Beware, cliques are usually encouraged and thrive on a type of gang mentality.
4. Undermining each other - Beware of any woman who can never celebrate your accomplishments with you. It could be a new boyfriend, a promotion, an award, a new job, a new acquisition, weight loss. If she has nothing positive to say to you about it, does not show emotional support, or chooses to remain silent she is not a true friend. Real friends know how to recognize and genuinely rejoice for our successes with pride.
5. Competing against each other - You need to get this straight. There will always be another woman with nicer hair, a more caring husband or boyfriend, better behaved children, a better paying job, a bigger house, a more fashionable wardrobe - there will always be some woman with more of what you don't have. Consequently, the only person that you need to compete against is yourself. Strive to be the best that you can be - for you. Competing against other women to prove yourself superior is a financial and emotional drainer. Because of this mindless competition we become mean, envious and hypocritical. It is pointless.
6. Disrespecting boundaries - To survive peacefully every relationship and every friendship must have clear boundaries. Good relationships operate within margins of respect. Within this level of respect, privacy and intimacy are keywords. Yes, you are my friend, but that doesn't give me the right to walk into your bedroom or your kitchen, unbeknownst to you, and help myself to your stuff. I don't do this not because you won't allow me to, but because I respect your privacy and your things. Consequently, we both need to know and respect each other's levels of privacy and intimacy.
7. Crossing boundaries - This is similar to the above; the only difference is that my respect of your boundaries should never depend on my friendship with you. We need to respect women for the simple fact that they are women. If she is a woman she is a sister. Period. Therefore, from that understanding I will have the utmost respect for her children, her man, her opinions, her choices, and for her as a person. It amazes me how women are quick to disrespect another sister's boundaries, but feel offended if another woman does to them the same exact thing. Honestly, that type of inconsistent behavior can only be credited to some form of mental illness.
8. Exploiting our friendships - This is a major one. Why are you friends? Do you only remember her being around whenever she could get something from you? It doesn't even have to be material. It could just be your time or your positive energy. Does she happen to be always on the receiving side, with you dishing out tons of yourself or your stuff? Or is she your friend because of what you represent? It could be that your husband's position or yours, your possessions, your talent, whatever, represents some form of achievement. Is she a friend because that link to you places her on a higher platform? In a real friendship appreciation, support, and loyalty must be reciprocal.
The email entitled, “Things Women Do to Each Other” was very heart warming to me. We as women should unite and support one another instead of pulling each other down. However, I did run across a woman who wanted to help me without expecting anything in return. I said thank you to her gracious offer and walked away. I could hardly make it to the end of the day because I was not use to someone offering to help me. I am always the one who is the giver. I could not wait to get to my car. I sobbed because of her kindness. I’ve gotten so use to people waiting for me to fall and competing against me and wanting something in return whether it is financial, material or emotional. This became an emotional drainer for me.
For example, I enrolled in college and did not tell anyone because of the negativity that I would receive. Because of this mindless competition, women do become mean, envious and hypocritical. The majority of the women I run across don’t rejoice for one another’s victories. We should rejoice for one another because women don’t know the struggle that other women have had to go through to achieve their goals. We should applaud each other, uplift each other and express gratitude if someone shares their wisdom. Wisdom is a gift. I hope that I run into more women who share the gift of wisdom with me.
It was uplifting to read everyones' comments, especially the one about us being better sisters to each other. It is sad that we tend not to look out for one another. Let's make a real effort to treat the other sister how we want to be treated.
Pauline Tucker
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