WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE, HOW DO YOU REACT?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
(1 Samuel 1:1-19)

MEDITATION:
As believers, what we say and how we react to situations is very
important (not only for how others perceive us, but also for how
we are rewarded).

Elkanah had 2 wives (Hannah and Peninnah)
(I’m not sure why he had two wives, but times were different back then).

At any rate, Peninnah was very fertile and could get pregnant easily.
Hannah, on the other hand, was barren. Peninnah provoked Hannah
by constantly reminding her that she was barren (it irritated Hannah
and added to her misery).
    Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb,
    her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.
    (1 Samuel 1:6)

Her husband, Elkanah, tried to encourage Hannah, but she continued
to become more distraught. As her depression deepened, she went to
the temple to talk to the Lord (to pour her heart out to Him). While she
was there, the priest (Eli) noticed that her lips were moving, but no one
could hear any words. Eli assumed she was drunk and even said to her,
    “How long are you going to stay drunk?
      Put away your wine.”
      (1 Samuel 1:14)

In her emotional state at the time, and knowing she had not been
drinking any wine or beer, Hannah could have felt justified if she
“got in Eli’s face”. But she didn’t……guess what she did?

In a calm manner, she explained to Eli that she was not drunk, but
she was troubled and was praying to the Lord out of “great anguish
and grief”. She even called Eli, “my lord”, which showed respect,
rather than contempt for him.

What were the results of her response?
There were three things that happened:
    1. Eli told her to “go in peace” and asked that,
        “the God of Israel would grant her requests”
    2. She was no longer downcast.
    3. She later gave birth to a son.

Too often we dig our hole even deeper by how we respond to some
of the situations in our life. Being barren was a MAJOR issue, but
we can learn a lot from how Hannah responded (especially since we
know the circumstances). Even if she struck out at Eli and others
because of her frustration and anger, we might understand her
reaction, but she responded in a godly manner.

Also, we can see that some issues cannot be resolved in any other way
than taking them to the Lord and trusting Him. Elkanah tried to help,
but his best efforts didn’t lift Hannah out of the state of depression she
was in.

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – What do you do first when you have major issues?
    – Do you try to resolve them yourself, in your own
       strength, or do you take them to the Lord?
    – Are you cognizant of how your reactions will impact others?
    – Does your self-centeredness prevent you from considering
       how your actions and reactions can have an influence on others?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, make me aware of how my reactions
can impact others. Help me to be more like Jesus every
day, and teach me to allow the Holy Spirit to control
EVERY aspect of my life. Teach me to bring my issues
to You, instead of being independent and trying to solve
them myself. Increase my desire to point others to Jesus
and not turn them away from Him as a result of what
they see in me. Show me what to do and say when I am
faced with troublesome times. Remind me that I can have
a positive or negative impact on others by the way I respond
to my circumstances. Teach me to trust You more every day.”

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