Caroline Petrie was suspended without pay last year. Her offense? She offered to pray for an elderly patient to whom she was giving care. When the married mom of two was informed of her discipline, she expressed sadness and surprise—but she didn’t lash out at her accuser or those who suspended her. Her response reminds me a lot of Hannah’s in 1 Samuel 1.
Her husband, Elkanah, had unwisely (and against God’s plan for marriage—Genesis 2:24) married another woman—possibly so that he could have children (v.2; see also Genesis 16:1-3, 30:3-10). This led to some ugly behavior. Peninnah—wife no. 2—taunted Hannah, gloating in the fact that she had borne Elkanah children while Hannah had none (v.6).
So how did Hannah respond to these attacks? Did she mount a counterattack and send back a volley of insults, including the fact that Elkanah actually loved her more than Peninnah? (v.5). Scripture reveals that she chose something else. She chose to pray.
Sobbing and groaning in raw, emotional pain (v.10), she poured out her heart to God (v.15). Instead of dwelling on her adversary, she chose to rest in the arms of her Advocate. And God heard her and chose to bless her with a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him” (v.19).
Will God always give us the desire of our heart? No. But we know He is good and that He will bring about the good works in our life that we need (Romans 8:28).
In Caroline Petrie’s life, God chose to restore her job after she chose to call on Him rather than curse her adversaries. Call on God as you face your adversary. He is listening.
More:
• Psalm 4:1
• Matthew 5:44
• Romans 12:12
Next:
How have you been responding to the attacks of your adversary? How can prayer be the right response for your situation?
cspevacek on June 2, 2010 at 5:23 am
I am really glad to see this today. A friend and I have been going through a situation with someone and I have been praying for that someone and telling my friend to do the same. Thank you for affirming that we are not alone and that ” if God be for us who can be against us” Romans 8:31.
compassion1 on June 2, 2010 at 8:28 am
This is a fresh Word for not only me but others as well. GOD is our advocate. HE is our Source and Resource for HE says HE will supply our every need. Even during difficult times. Our trust and confidence should be in GOD and not man. Too many times Christians lose heart with GOD because they have moved out too soon on something instead of Waiting Patiently for GOD to WORK HIS WORK. What the enemy meant for bad against us; GOD meant it for our Good(Genesis 50:20). With JESUS we WIN Everytime, there is no failure in GOD…
agapegirl88 on June 2, 2010 at 9:37 am
Amen! I often lose heart in prayer when it seems I am asking for the impossible. I am encouraged today to persevere and keep praying. The verse in Romans 12:12 is so true “Rejoice in our confident hope, Be patient in trouble, and keep praying”
Ese on June 2, 2010 at 9:38 am
Thanks Tom for another great devotional.
It is great to be reminded that the Lord does indeed listen even if we feel like he does not.
Reading today’s scripture, my attention was captivated by v.7b-8a and v.18; the change in Hannah’s attitude from before her prayer time to the after prayer time. She left her sorrow in God’s hands and came out with a positive, changed attitude eventhough she did not get any audible or sign answer from God saying that he would bless her with a child. She simply changed her attitude and allowed God’s timming to intervene!
I am reminded of many times when I used to pray about something, yet I kept worrying about it; then I listned to a teaching that said: ” do you pray because you believe that your prayer reaches God and can change circumstances, or is it just a ritual you do out of religious duty and you dont really belive that it makes a difference? If that is the case, quit wasting your time and stop praying.” I must say that was a wake up call. Here again is a great reminder that our God who created our ears does listen, all he needs from me is to TRUST & OBEY!
R R Kelkar on June 2, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Ese, you have echoed some of my own thoughts. It has indeed been my experience that prayer does work. I have seen that it changes circumstances, it transforms our attitudes, it even results in a change in attitude of other people who matter to us. But even then, there is always some hesitation, some lack of trust, in the process of prayer that crops up time and again. There are ‘what if..’ questions that get raised in a corner of my mind. I even wonder what God will think of my prayer! Lord, increase my faith, help me in my unbelief!
danielmung on June 2, 2010 at 11:53 am
Presently i’m facing a lot of rejections from colleges for my Master’s degree but its that Hope in Him and clinging to Him, the promise that ‘the best is installed for You if u wait’ is keeping me through.
msumalabe on June 2, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Thank you Tom for this message. It is very comforting to know that we can call out to the Lord, and He is always willing to listen to our prayers.
Thank you Lord for your goodness.