So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. (1 Samuel 1:6-7 NLT)
“Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord . Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. (1 Samuel 1:15-18 NLT)
And she was no longer sad! I love this. She was no longer in distress! Her life no longer revolved around her pain She no longer saw life through the lenses stained with pain!
She no longer starved herself; starved herself of the joy around her, of the good things of life, starved herself of her husband’s love, she opened her arms and received and reciprocated, she no longer got demoralized when her menses knocked , She no longer starved herself of the evening dances with her fellow women, she no longer starved herself of laughter, she laughed just like me, I lauuuuuugh a lot, my siblings and I can form a company of laughter.
Hannah starved no more.
She wasn’t skeptical about the dishes she served, even her husband’s she served.
And at the place of surrender, at the place of surrender she chose to LIVE, she lived and at the place of surrender she received SAMUEL. As Hannah kept choosing the place of surrender, Peninah kept thriving in taunting her; and they both thrived in their games. I guess Hannah even made some soup to energize her fellow woman to jeer some more. The place of surrender bore fruits.
Surrender changes not our situations but the ownership of that circumstance changes, you give it to the one that the earth and everything therein belongs to; God. He is the master artist, master creator at the place of surrender He takes over and creates everything that comes with awesomeness from a place of disillusionment, desperation, humiliation, shame…..along that line.
This revelation has left me thinking that Hannah’s healing came from the place of surrender.
May God speak more on this subject.
~ Emily Omondi