Hannah's Perseverance

Hannah is one of the iconic figures in the bible. Her name brings to mind the virtues of prayer, persistence, perseverance and faithfulness to one’s vows to God. She was childless for many years. She had prayed for many years. She had waited and waited for many years without a child. However, Hanna did not give up or cave in to societal pressures and oppression. She never lost hope. She hoped against hope. She did not quit. She did not abandon God or her faith. In her anxiety and distress, she did what most people would not do. She went into the temple, and poured her soul before the Lord. The Psalmist says “I waited, I waited for the Lord. He stooped down to me. He heard my cry” (Ps 40:1). Hanna waited and waited for the Lord. The Lord stooped down to her and heard her cry. She conceived and gave birth to a son. She dedicated her only child to God in the temple. The Lord has stupendous plans for us (Cf. Jer 29:11). And the Lord has a loving desire and unfailing power to fulfil His plans in our lives. If only we can wait on Him like Hannah. If the Lord’s plan tarries. We should wait patiently. For surely it will be fulfilled (Cf. Hab 2:3). We wait. We wait in hope and expectation. We do not wait in doubts and despair. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint(Is 40:31).