* Never Give Up

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, 

that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 

Luke 18:1

When you come to that 'wilderness' experience in your life and nothing seems to be going the way you think it ought to go, don't give up on God; instead, look to Him and don't become weary while you wait.  

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  Galatians 6:9

This may be difficult to conceive, let alone do, but we must learn to trust in God.  Trust in the timing of God; fully believing that He will work your situation out according to His good, perfect and acceptable will.  We may never know the intimate details of how God is moving in our life, but we do know that God is moving and will touch our heart with His desire for our life.  You may not understand it initially . . . and that's alright, take it to God.  He is the only one, not man or things, that can resolve every situation in your life.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

There is a biblical account of a woman named Hannah who desperately wanted a child. As was the custom in those times, her husband, Elkanah, had another wife, Pininnah.  Hannah was taunted by Pininnah because she was barren and this did not make the situation any easier for Hannah as Pininnah was fruitful and able to bear children.  Despite Elkanah’s love for Hannah and his desire to do anything he could for her, Hannah remained distraught because she was unable to bear children.

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?  1 Samuel 1:8

The one thing Hannah wanted above all else was children. Her prayer demonstrates the level of desperation Hannah had reached as she prayed to God to give her a child:

"And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, 'O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head"  1 Samuel 1:10-11

The account goes on to say that Hannah prayed so desperately and with such yearning that the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk.    After talking with her, Eli told her, 

"Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him."   1 Samuel 1:17

My question is how often are we desperate enough with our petitions to God that we can go before him and pour our hearts out despite what it may look like to others?  Hannah may have began her prayers in her home, but she ended up at the temple.  When we go to God with our petitions, is it an half-hearted prayer?  Do we display to God how sincerely we want or need a thing or do we already have a back-up plan in case God does not answer our request.  In this account, it was God who made Hannah barren.  

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.   1 Samuel 1:5

He wanted her in a position so that she had no place and no one to turn to but God.   And because she was so desperate to have her petition granted by God, she promised to give back the very thing she was asking for.  What are you willing to give up or do for God in exchange  for God granting you the desire of your heart?

And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.   1 Samuel 1:11

When Hannah discovered she was pregnant, she did not forget her petition and her vow to God.  She gave God thanks and worshipped Him:

And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." So they worshiped the Lord there.  1 Samuel 1:26-28

The account does not end there.  Hannah’s final prayer is recorded:  

And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. "No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. "Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed. "The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble. "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed."   1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah continues to thank God and to praise Him.  Hannah was at peace from the moment the priest Eli told her that she would receive her petition!  What great faith!  She did not question Eli or God as to when, where or how.  She trusted in God and believed in His word.

Will you have faith and trust that God will grant you your petitions?  And when He does, will you remember to thank Him?

We don't always know the intimate details of God's plan for our life; Particularly when we get in seemingly insurmountable situations.  That's why prayer is always in order. In the case of Hannah, God's plan was the birth of the prophet, Samuel. Good required Samuel from his youth. Everything worked for the good for Hannah. Not only did she have Samuel; whom she gave to God as she promised she would, but God blessed her with several more children.

And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.  1 Samuel 2:21

Seek God no matter what!  God tells us in His word to seek Him first!

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Matthew 6:33

This is a good practice no matter what your situation may be; rather you are up or down.  Apostle Paul puts it this way:

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Philippians 4:11-13

(Biblical Study)

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