“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore, I have lent him to the Lord. As long as
he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28 (ESV)
Hannah, in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, was a woman who endured hardship. She was ridiculed in her home, but she also carried the burden of barrenness. She didn’t have peace or security. In the Ancient Near East, it was seen as a shameful thing if a woman couldn’t bear children.
Some would have seen Hannah’s condition as a punishment for something she did, or even a curse. But Hannah cried out in vexation.
In her time of sorrow, she cast all her worries on the God who cared for her, and He answered by giving her a son, Samuel.
The world and our society teach us that we need to fill the void in our lives with objects or relationships. Hannah could have thought that by having a son she would find fulfillment. But if our fulfillment and security doesn’t rest in the Lord, then we end up passing the emptiness and brokenness onto our relationships with others. We end up multiplying what we sought to eliminate.
Sadly, most of us do this. We crown something or someone king of our hearts. Non-believers feel they need everything but Jesus in their life. And believers can feel they need Jesus plus something or someone else.
So, my friends, I ask you this question: “Is Jesus enough?” Whatever you feel you are lacking in life, Jesus is all you really need. “Seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Seek the true King and you will find fulfillment and security.
— Mark Little Elk
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org