Character Sketches with Kat: Hannah

Good evening beautiful ladies!

I have a confession to make to you all... I did something silly! Haha. Okay, are most of you familiar with those character quizzes you can find online? Things like, "Which Star Trek: Next Generation character are you?" or maybe even, "What is your spirit animal?" Well silly me, I decided to take one of those quizzes. It's obviously kind of fake (or a lot of fake), but sometimes it's just fun to see what characters you may be like. The quiz I took told me that I was like the woman of the Bible, Hannah. According to the quiz result, I am perseverant, patient, I never doubt God's abilities and in the face of bullying I prayed fervently and was eventually awarded. I may be one or two of those things, so I was pretty excited about this! But once I got to thinking about it, I really didn't know much about Hannah.. I knew that she had a child after praying to God for a really long time. But aside from that, I didn't know much so I decided to learn more. 

First, I had to find where Hannah was in the Old Testament; that led me to the book of 1 Samuel. I read her story and immediately felt sorry I hadn't known her better already- she is so inspiring! Hannah was married to a man named Elkanah who loved her very much. He cherished her even though she was unable to provide him with children. However, Elkanah was also married to Peninnah who did provide him with children of her own. Elkanah was sure to take care of Hannah even though she was barren but Peninnah, out of jealousy for Elkanah's love, would taunt Hannah year after year. Eventually, it got to the point where Hannah would cry the whole time they were out to make their yearly sacrifices and she would not eat at the feast for their family. (1 Samuel 1:1-7)

Elkanah was worried about Hannah in much the same way that many men today worry about the women they love. He wanted what was best for her, he wanted to treat her right and he desperately wanted to help her. He couldn't understand why he wasn't good enough for her and she still wanted a child. And in the situation, I think Hannah responded the same way most women respond in times like this: she wouldn't talk to him or tell him what was wrong. (1 Samuel 1:8-9) Verses 10 and 11 say, "[s]he was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, 'O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head'" (ESV).

Hannah made a pact with God just as so many people today try to do, especially in movies and on TV. But I think Hannah was different. You see, Hannah had been fighting this for years. Also, Hannah loved God with her entire heart; she loved God more than she loved her husband (which should be the case anyways). (1 Samuel 1:19-20) Something else I think it important to note, Hannah did not ask for her blessing out of selfishness. Eventually, Hannah was awarded for her strength, her love, and her servant's heart: God allowed her to have a son whom she named Samuel. And when she was given the blessing she asked for, she continued to act selflessly for what she'd been given. In 1 Samuel chapter 1, verses 22 and 26-28, we see Hannah using her blessing (her son) the way she had promised she would. 

Whenever someone is deathly ill (again, especially in movies and on TV) it seems like these prayers, "God, if you would just _____, I would _____ for the rest of my life!" are the ones that take place. Many times, these prayers are not answered the way the prayer is asked for. Other times, the prayer is answered as hoped, but the pray-er doesn't hold up "their end" of the bargain. I don't know which situation makes my heart more sad- the desperate one-time prayer, or the broken promise after the prayer is heard. Our faith is not a code of morals, it is a lifestyle. Our prayers should be daily, not in life-or-death situations with strings attached. 

Hannah was rewarded for her prayer, but it wasn't simply because she prayed when she was hurting. It was because she had already proven herself worthy and God saw in her heart that she would continue to prove herself worthy. Of course we can all change for the better- we can receive the blessings we need to serve the Lord. But we need to prove we are ready first. A parent would not hand their 10 year old child the keys to their car, nor would they hand the keys over to a 16 year old who doesn't follow the rules. They hand the keys over to responsible children who are capable of using the car the way it needs to be used. Was it easy for Hannah to not have children? Certainly not. Did she enjoy being put down by Peninnah year after year? I am sure she didn't. But she handled those things as a servant of God and He saw that. Once she used God's blessing the way He intended for her to use it, God continued to bless Hannah (1 Samuel 2:21).

Very honestly, I'm not much like Hannah. I have a quality or two that she has, but I'm not quite there yet. But after studying Hannah, I do hope to have her heart. I hope to be the servant she was and have the same kind of heart that God saw in her. Although the quiz was watered down and wasn't really right about my similarity to this Bible character, I certainly hope to grow to be like her. I'm praying for you all this week!

In sisterly love,
Kat

"'There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed...He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail'" (1 Samuel 2:2-3, 9; ESV)