The Purpose of Pain Part IV

1 Samuel 1:25-28

And they slew — a bullock, and brought — the child to Eli.
And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.
For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me — my petition which I asked of him:

1 Samuel 3:19
And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

We have journeyed with Hannah through her struggles because of her failure to bare a child for her husband, which especially in that time was a woman’s purpose and identity.  Without children to raise and care for, she had no purpose. Yet Elkanah her husband, in contrast to societies dictates, never demeans her but speaks words of tenderness and kindness to her, “I’m I not better than 10 sons.” These words not only show he held no bitterness toward her but it shows his character as being compassionate. However despite his kindness, culture is something that not even Elkannah’s kind words could not surmount. Culture and her own upbringing dictated that she must bare children, at least one son. Hannah did not know that God had “shut her womb” for a specific reason. Sometimes the acts of God appear less than kind, however that is when faith comes in. When one truly knows God, one knows that God is anything but unkind, it’s just not in His character. However, He knowing our weaknesses and self focus tendencies needs to cause or use circumstances to bring a spiritual awakening in us. And in reality something within Hannah needed “birthing” prior to conceiving Samuel. Samuel’s birth was symbolic of the completion of that work.

Soon, the pain of being childless became unbearable ontop of witnessing the awful behavior of the priests. These two pains is what the Lord used  to bring to “birth” an attitude in Hannah that would allow God to entrust her to conceive and raise Samuel. Hannah expressed from the depth of her soul a prayer that she would have never prayed if it were not for these two combined trials. Prior to this moment her prayers centered around her own need, her own insecurity, the need to fit into the culture etc.  Yet  because of the spiritual decline being so serious in Israel she could no longer pray just for herself, but for the nation Israel. Now her prayer took on a far greater purpose. It was now about God’s name and having a man that would execute God’s justice; Israel’s  future was at stake. Maybe her thoughts were this, “Lord you need a man to lead us more than I need a son to make me feel like a woman. If you allow me to conceive a son, I will give him back to you.” How often does God withhold something that in itself is a good thing, just so He can give us a better thing? Are we even aware of this grinding down process, do we even know that the trial we are in is to get our eyes off ourselves and onto a much bigger purpose. To go from “I want this for me (though we would never say it so directly, that is really the truth) to Lord glorify Yourself through this and in me,” and now the prayer of years gets answered.

 And so it was, her focused changed to what God needed and a “deal” was made and she conceived. I have prayed since my teenage years to be a pastor, even to tears and through the many years of unanswered prayer I finally came to understand my error. Trying to make what I do fulfill me, not who I am fulfill me. Who I am is much more important than what I do. What I do is a matter of provision, but who I am is a matter of life, for it determines my decisions and my behavior and brings meaning and purpose to whatever I do. We are always seeking meaning from our careers or from what we do, where as in reality our meaning and purpose needs to come from our relationship to the Lord. This rightly adjusts our approach to everything we do, from our jobs, to our marriages, to raising kids, or now in our case helping to raise grandkids. This approach brings honor to the Lord and keeps me from “burning out.” By “being” God’s adopted son by Grace, which is my foundation and core identity, it brings to me honor and strength and gives me the perimeters or the boundaries of my life allowing me to make right decisions, decisions that are much bigger than just me, giving my life a far greater purpose and direction.

This right foundation is critical, for it determines how we view ourselves and the value we place on others – and how we relate to our world in general. Though the job of pastoring and teaching His Word would thrill me, He didn’t die on the Cross for me to teach His Word. He died on the Cross so that the LORD and Arthur could have a relationship. That’s why He died, and thus understanding the purpose of His sacrifice it lifts me above my natural tendencies of being self centered to see and live for a much bigger picture. A life that has the awesome privilege of doing LIFE with my Heavenly Father. Of growing old in His love, and taking that love and sharing it with others. From being a liability of need to becoming an asset of love and care.  Without these intense struggles, such as what Hannah went through, most of us live our whole lives being a liability to God. Life becomes all about my world, my job, my family, my home, my interests, my, my, my. Instead of how Jesus taught us, ” Let Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” As believers we need to ask ourselves, how is God’s Kingdom being realized through me? And part of that is being responsible for our family but it’s easy to become “only focused” and not be “other focused” as well.  God’s Kingdom is seen through us, “given flesh and blood, character and purpose” brought to earth through us.  if it is not seen through the actions of His people, then who? We are His hands and feet. Bringing God’s Kingdom to earth through our relationship to Him first, is what being a Christian is all about. In John 15:5 Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can — do nothing.”

This is the chief purpose of every believer, how are you doing with that?

I fear that this next statement is true of many that “warm the pews” in church.  John 15:6

If my fear was not true then how is it that all the plagues of society are not decreasing, divorce, pornography, drugs,- both legal and illegal, sex etc., to just name a few. We are called to be salt and light, and we should be reversing this trend. In Matthew Jesus speaks of our collective representation in society 5:13-14&16

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid….
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”