Day 4: In Due Time
Reading for Today:
1 Samuel 1:1-20
Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.” As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her plea, and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”
Now that we are stepping into Day 4, you’re realizing you are actually on a fast and your faith should start to awaken to the things you are expecting from God.
One of the great challenges of faith is waiting. Many times, we struggle with the gap between faith and facts. I believe God can do it but we can sometimes struggle with the timing of when it will happen.
…and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.” vs. 20
As we see in 1 Samuel 1, Hannah had a similar experience of waiting. Year after year she prayed for God to give her a child and year after year she was disappointed. But even through her disappointment, she continued believing that God would step in and do for her what she could not do for herself.
As you begin to feel the effects of the fast, I want to encourage you to show your trust in God by bringing Him into the parts of your life where you have lost faith and struggled to get up again. Maybe something happened in your family and you’re struggling to get back up. You could be praying for restoration in your marriage. You may be on a search for direction and unsure about your next step. Wherever you are, remain faithful in trusting God’s time.
Pray Again. Maybe you stopped praying because your answer didn’t come soon enough.
Try Again. A broken spirit can sometimes lead to a broken life. This may be your time to make another effort.
Today, pray in such a way that lets God know you’re getting up again. In the face of challenges, adversity or naysayers, come back to God so that He can show His faithfulness in your life.
In the end, Hannah’s prayer was answered. But what I love about her is that she worshipped God before she knew that answer. That’s faith.
Fasting Tip: Practice praying in faith. Pray with the attitude that shows you believe God is going to answer.