The Profit of the Desert Place
Hannah lived in the sand-blasted desperate deserts of her soul.
Year after year Elkanah's wife Hannah worshiped and sacrificed to the Lord. Hannah was sorely provoked in spirit through her barrenness, weeping much in anguish and grief.
Her pleading did not cease any more than God had not listened.
Eventually she gave birth to the prophet Samuel. (Read the full story in 1 Samuel 1)
The unreasonable request of suffering is to still worship God in the darkness of despair.
In the extended seasons of suffering the choice is to believe good of our Lord despite any outward evidence.
The test to worship God in famine is the courage of faith:
for shall not the judge of all the earth still do right?
God remembers the tears of sadness, for He has seen them and bottled them - indeed bled His own.
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. (1 Samuel 1:19)
When devotion has become your mainstay in weakness it will be your habit in strength.
It is from suffering 'God fled to' becomes life's pattern, a safe template for times of evil and times of good.
In the desert the profit of the Lord's presence is learned, for worship becomes deeper than despair.
Today's Soul Snippet:
Spiritual growth consists most in the growth of the root, which is out of sight. ~ Matthew Henry
Love this SoulSnack - PLEASE don't keep it to yourself? Would you like to subscribe for free SoulSnacks either weekly or each workday?
ENJOY - Decisions in the Desert