Remember me, O LORD!

1 Samuel 1:19 And the LORD remembered Hannah.

When the LORD puts people on hold, it is for a greater purpose. Peninnah had children, while Hannah had no children. While Peninnah cruised through life, Hannah was stuck in a spot. Adding to the misery, Peninnah provoked Hannah severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb. So it was, year by year, when Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, that Peninnah provoked her, therefore Hannah wept and did not eat.

Years went by and Hannah was still left to wait. Intense words express Hannah’s emotional state – bitterness of soul, anguished in weeping, a sorrowful spirit, complaint and much grief. Hannah was at the end of her rope. She made a vow before the LORD and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life; and no razor shall come upon his head”. 1 Samuel 1:11

God molds His children to fulfil His purpose for them especially in their time of waiting. No wait time goes to waste for His children. When the appointed wait time comes to pass, Hannah gets to the point where she is willing to make the vow to the LORD that she will give the child back to Him. She makes the demand for a male child, even though this child is not hers to keep anymore.

With Hannah’s vow, her wait time before the LORD, who had closed her womb also came to an end. Isn’t it amazing? When we fret and moan thinking that we are the ones who are waiting for God, isn’t God also waiting for us, along with us, waiting for us to in align to His heart, so that He can accomplish His higher purpose in us and through us.

1 Samuel 1:20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him from the LORD”.

Peninnah had children, but none significant enough for their names to be mentioned. But Hannah’s loan to the LORD Samuel surpassed Eli in hearing from God at a very young age.

1 Samuel 2:20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the LORD”.

21. And the LORD visited Hannah(same as Sarah – Genesis 21:1) so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters.

Isaiah 49:23 For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.