The Cost of Your Yes Part 3: “The Price of Desperation” 1 Samuel 1:1-28, 2:1-2, 20-21 The transition into unprecedented favor comes with a cost. It is not uncommon to feel like you have reached a place of desperation. The voice of God is beckoning us to come but life’s circumstances and issues of life keep telling us no. Our dreams, destiny and ministry are calling, but it will require a leap of faith that will include leaving our comfort zones. Part of God’s plan is to get us to His purpose. When other things fail, God will drive us to a place of desperation. Desperate people do desperate things and desperate things move God. When our backs are against the wall, it causes us to fast harder, pray harder, cry out harder and praise harder. Sometimes God orders things to bring us to a point of desperation. The tool used in the text was barrenness. Many of us are not really barren, it is merely our present state and our current state of affairs does not dictate our destiny. Hannah had no children. Penninah had children. They both were married to Elkanah. God closed Hannah’s womb. Sometimes God will shut things down. That does not mean that there is something wrong with us. Hannah’s thoughts were centered on being childless and her husband was unable to comfort her with his love because it was just not enough. Hannah endured ridicule and provocation from Penninah. However Penninah was also broken because she has children but does not have her husband’s love. Penninah had an issue with her husband, but was taking it out on Hannah. Penninah is representative of anything in our lives that is constantly coming at us. While Penninah was messing with Hannah, Hannah was taking it to the Lord. Hannah’s vow to God cost her the very thing that she sought. She told God if He gave her a son, she would give him back. Hannah was an ordinary woman with extraordinary destiny in her. Her desperation moved God. 1. Sometimes our barrenness (inability to produce) is a part of God’s purpose for our lives. God closed Hannah’s womb on purpose. 2. Barrenness is sometimes God’s way to get us to relinquish our will for His Will. 3. Unexpected favor and fruitfulness often have their beginnings in unprecedented brokenness and barrenness. Was the outcome worth the price? Hannah not only had Elkanah’s love, but she had a son who was anointed. Hannah did not become bitter, but instead she learned to pray and she made a vow to God. If we are willing to pay the cost and endure the price, God has a way that is mighty sweet. God will allow us to reap where we did not sow when we give Him back what He gives us. ~Bishop Coleman @ GNHCM 11/16/2014
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 01:56:09 +0000