The world, a fallen state
This world is in a fallen state because of sin therefore pain and suffering form part of the evils of this world. There are things that happen in our lives that leave us asking why Lord? Why did it have to be me, us, them?
A fallen world with so much evil.
Is there hope? Will it get better? When will things turn around? We even wonder why some people who we think are terrible seem to be having such a great life.
A married couple will struggle to get babies and stay in pain for years, a teenager will engage in casual sex once and get pregnant ....
A man will work diligently and hard yet get retrenched, another man will get promotions on the basis of who they know....
An innocent child is killed in war, another couple is wishing they had no children...
A spouse will yearn for their departed spouse, another spouse yearns for their spouse to depart..
Death, sickness, joblessness, insecurity, corruption, rape, murder... So much pain in this world.
There are so many things gone wrong, yet our nature admits that there is a deep longing for someone to save us from the mess we have created through sin.
The bible (1 Sam 1-28)
A story is told of Hannah and Peninnah married to the same husband Elkanah, Peninnah with children and Hannah without. Yet Hannah was loved more than Peninnah and the husband assured her he meant more to her than ten sons would have. Peninnah kept provoking Hannah because she had no children. In fact Peninnah would irritate Hannah so much that she would cry and not eat. This was pain carried on year after year.
We are not told much about Peninnah but I am wondering whether she also was pained for not being loved like Hannah was, given huge portions of meat like Hannah yet she had borne Elkanah children.
Our reaction that brings no good
My thoughts are taken back to Peninnah. I don't know if any woman would be comfortable or happy in her situation. Maybe she felt she had given Elkanah many babies yet she was not the favourite. She felt unloved. Peninnah is not seen going to God. What she did was turn to the 'enemy' (Hannah) and attacked her causing the poor woman more pain.
She reacted negatively and very little is said about her after that. In fact we don't know if she was ever loved which might be a very sad outcome.
Our response in times of trouble (and at all times)
The story above has a beautiful ending but for a moment let us focus on how these 2 ladies acted and reacted.
Hannah seems to have been going through deep anguish, maybe depressed. Not much is said about Peninnah but she must have been going through her own form of anguish.
Peninnah chose to irritate Hannah to the point that Hannah just cried and could not even eat. She pushed Hannah further into pain.
Hannah on the other hand bore her pain, cried and she did one amazing thing. Hannah poured her heart out to the Lord, poured all the bitterness in her soul. (v9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. v10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.)
After pouring her heart out to God something amazing happened. v18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
There is hope
I believe the solution to all our issues is running very fast to Jesus. Jesus did something for Hannah, He took away the burden and gave her His burden. She received a peace beyond human understanding
Matt 11:28-30 (Jesus Christ is calling us)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
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