1 Samuel 1:5-7   But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 

Obviously the trouble all started in this relationship triangle when it became a triangle.  God never intended for men to have more than one wife, I don’t know of a woman on earth that is up to sharing her husband with anyone!

Peninnah had leverage to be able to provoke Hannah to tears because she was able to have children and Hannah wasn’t.  It is tough enough to go through a tribulation in our lives without having someone coming right along side us to torment us and Peninnah was enjoying every minute of it.  Do you have someone like that in your life or are you maybe the Peninnah in someone else’s life?  I would sure hope not but sometimes at our worst or weakest moments it seems Satan likes to use someone to kick us while we are down.

Hannah was so tormented and you know Elkanah was at a loss for how to “fix” this problem because of his response of “aren’t I better than 10 sons?”  At that point in Hannah’s mind I am sure her answer was, “uh, NO” she didn’t feel complete as a woman and he was distraught for not knowing how to fix it and she was devastated because she had no way of fixing this or anyway of making her tormentor stop either.

Do you have a situation that leaves you feeling as though there is no relief in sight and everywhere you turn it seems as though no one understands and your tormentors seem to be coming out of the woodwork?  We can learn a great lesson here from Hannah:  when she finally turned to God and poured her heart out to him and cried, God heard her prayer and gave her a son and blessed her with other children.  Her help was found in God and God alone.  God took away the ability of Peninnah to torment her and solved her problem of not feeling complete.  No one else could fix any of this she had to totally rely on God and nothing and no one else.

God cares about whatever you are going through and He is the ONLY one who can truly “fix” it!  The answer He has may not be what you are thinking or expecting but His answer is always best.  There isn’t a tear you can cry that He doesn’t notice.  I would encourage you today to pour your heart out to Him and expect Him to hear and answer your prayers.  Ask for His forgiveness and guidance in areas you need to grow in your walk with Him and pour your heart out for healing and blessing on your life!

Quote:   “In the middle of every difficulty comes opportunity.”  Albert Einstein