The God who fulfills desire of our hearts - 1 Samuel 1-3

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%201-3&version=NIV

I doubt anyone likes to the word ‘wait’. If given a choice, I doubt many of us would choose to wait – for anything. I considered one time writing a book on waiting because I seem to be an expert on the subject (not be my own choice, I assure you). I’d give the book the title, ‘No One Wants To Read This Book’, because if you are reading a book on waiting, that probably means you are waiting, and no one likes to do that!

Today I’d like to focus on the story of Hannah. I can relate well to Hannah – I imagine many of us can. Hannah had an unfilled longing. She had a desire of her heart that was good and godly and seemed to be part of her very being, and yet that desire went unfulfilled. Can anyone relate to that? I imagine that we all can as all of us, at some time, have waited for God to fulfill a desire of our hearts. Many of us currently are in a season of waiting.

Like Hannah, I have often brought my unfulfilled desires before the throne of God. Like Hannah, I have wept about those unfulfilled desires. Like Hannah, I have asked God ‘to look upon his servants misery and remember me’. And that is why Hannah’s story is one of my favorites – because it reminds me that God does indeed remember me every day and that there will be a time when the longing is filled, when the expected arrives. Here’s one of my favorite passages:

“…and the Lord remembered her.” – 1 Samuel 1:19

I pray that over myself often – that God would remember me as he remembered Hannah. Let’s talk about that phrase for a moment. When we think of the word ‘remembered’ we tend to think of it in terms of something forgettable – as in, ‘I remembered your birthday’ or, ‘I remembered that I owe you $20’, or ‘I remember now what I wanted to tell you.’ It tends to be a one-time remembering – a past-tense type of action. Not so in this case. The word ‘remembered’ as used here is translated as “to be mindful”. It is an on-going action, not a one-time recall. In addition, when ‘remember’ is used in the context of God’s people, it is not only an ongoing mindfulness, but is associated with acts of loving care and favor. Check out some of the other times it is used in Scripture:

Genesis 8:1 – God remembered Noah and brought a wind that dried up the waters
Genesis 30:22 – God remembered Rachel and she gave birth to a son – Joseph
Exodus 2:24 – God remembered the Israelites and his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob

Take heart, my friends, God is mindful of you. Take heart, God remembers you with loving care and favor. And yet, he seems to be holding out on bringing these longed for desires and at times that does not feel very loving. Why do we continue to wait?

Let’s look to God’s word for our answer, using first the people of Israel while they are in captivity in Egypt. They spent 430 years in Egypt before God brought them out, and by the time he did, they were groaning under the yoke of slavery. So what was he up to and why did he wait so long? Certainly it must have felt like they were forgotten as where his covenant promises to them. Not true. God was actively working out his plan for fulfilling his covenant promise of making them into a people and a great nation. When Israel entered Egypt, there were 70 people. When they left, they were 600,000 men alone – not to mention women and children. God built them into a nation large enough to populate a land. In addition, by bringing that many people out of Egypt and into the desert where he would provide for them, His glory was displayed in such a more miraculous way.

And so it was with Hannah also. God has a specific purpose and plan that was the cause of the delayed desires. He had a specific prophet that he wanted to raise up at a specific time for a specific purpose. He chose Hannah as the conduit for accomplishing this purpose, knowing that the fulfillment of her longed for desire would result in a heart of such great thankfulness that she would dedicate this gift from the Lord to the Lord. God knew Hannah’s heart before time began, and he knew that her response would place the boy Samuel in the temple where he would be taught by Eli and called by God.

Beth Moore says that often times when a deep desire of our hearts is delayed in coming, it is because God has this desire wrapped up into a larger purpose and plan for his kingdom. And oh, my friends – how brilliantly the glory of God appears when a longed for desire is delivered in supernatural timing. So my question for you is this: Would you rather have God fulfill your desire naturally, or supernaturally?

Hold on, walk in faith, your good and godly desire is before God – he daily remembers it and is working on your behalf. There will be a day when they expected will arrive, and like Hannah we will sing praises for what God has done. Until that day, I pray that God will meet you in your longing and give you the gift of joy, peace and contentment that gives you a certainty that he is there beside you. Be strong, take heart, and wait for the Lord!

The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving towards all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. They eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. – Psalm 145:13-16

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels