Dear Friends,
Grace and peace to you. I give thanks to God for each of you, the churches you lead and ministries of these wonderful churches. During this season I have often prayed for perseverance, for all of you and me to be given the means to persevere. I have noticed that you are indeed persevering, quite often thriving, in this midst of this season of doubt and drought. I am grateful for your willingness to minister and serve in a most persistent manner!
Hannah models perseverance as she prays to conceive, to bear a son. She prays, she engages in a conversation with God. Hannah prays, she listens, she waits. She responds to God and God responds to her. The NRSV says “in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son.” Hannah asked, was persistent in her asking, continually listening to God’s voice, and was faithful in her living. Clearly her days were not easy to endure: Peninah had a house full of children impossible to ignore. It seems Peninah often cast shade upon Hannah, encouraging her to see clearly who must be the favored one by God and by husband. This “in due time” business surely felt like forever. It was a time when she felt she wanted to move forward but was being held back. It was a time when her inner voices told her she wasn’t good enough to bear a child, from her womb and it’s functioning to her ability to birth a healthy child to her motherly instincts to raise a child. And yet she continued to pray, to seek God’s favor, to ask for the desire of her heart.
Hannah has an encounter with Eli, the priest, while she is praying. After clearing up she is not drunk (as he supposes), she describes herself as deeply troubled, one who is “pouring out her soul” to the Lord. Though Eli does not indicate he knows what she was praying for, he tells her to “go in peace,” assuring Hannah that her prayers have been heard and acted upon by God. Hannah does not give up through the most difficult days. Surely she feels like giving up and some days does not know how to pray. Those days where Elkanah sees her not eating, not smiling suggest the weight of the inner voices’ messages. They were getting to her. Yet she does not give up, she continues to pray, and to make her request known to God.
Was Hannah able to persevere because her faith was great? Yes – and – she journeyed with someone who loved her for just being Hannah. And – she worked hard at maintaining her faith, going out to pray, renewing her spirit by calling on God’s strength. And – she gives thanks, much praise to God, when she has received the desire of her heart.
And – maybe this is most of all, she has great expectation in God. She believes God hears her prayers and knows God will answer, will act, will keep promises. Expectation is what gets us up in the morning and what we bring with us to most anything; Hannah brings a spirit of expectancy when she prays. She is expecting God to act, to move and anticipates this action, in due time, as she prays for her greatest desire. While everyday she may not “see results” she does not lose hope; her fears are given to God and she receives hope for her future.
What is the desire of your heart? What would bring you great joy? Make your requests known to God, and bring them with expectation! Enlist a trusted friend to pray with you, to pray for you, to stand in the gap when you are too worn and weary to pray. Maybe you are that friend for another, a colleague, in need of prayer. Watch over one another in love. Share your hopes and dreams with expectant hope in your heart!
I have found expectation and hope around living into and leaning into this season. Our new bishop, Leonard Fairley, has encouraged us to “love, learn, listen, live and lean into this liminal season with hope.” I have gleaned so much from this one line he shares in our Charge Conference video. First, the word liminal reminds us this is a season, a limited and finite amount of time. Thanks be to God life won’t feel this way forever. Another season is coming.
And Bishop Fairley reminds us we can lean into this season. To lean in is to enter intentionally, to face with hope rather than fear. We continue to be “incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation” as we labor side by side in ministry, living out and learning more about our calling. As much as our focus feels divided, you are continuing in vital and wonderful ministry! You and I are giving thanks, I am noticing, for even the smallest wins and joys and offerings. We offer gratitude freely. Thanks be to God.
May we continue to give thanks as we ask and receive, as we pour out our souls to God.
Let’s pray: O God, give us your strength for the days ahead as we seek to live in peace with one another and serve you well. We pray your mighty hand will guide us well in work, uplift us in distress and settle us into a rhythm of work and rest. Receive our joyful thanks and praise. We walk forward, expectantly, with strong faith in You. In Jesus’ name through the Holy Spirit we pray. Amen.
Peace~
Tara
If you would like to view past editions of Time with Tara, follow this link:
https://harbordistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/