FAITH CAPSULE: Let no man seal up the close door that is already upon you with negative confessions.
1 Samuel 1:1-28
The Bible recorded how Elkanah, Hannah, Peninnah and all of Peninnah’s sons and daughters went to Shiloh every year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts. Every year they went and nothing changed in the story of Hannah. She was barren going and coming. It is written concerning Hannah, “And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.” (1 Samuel 1:4-7) There was no indication of complaining or fighting with anyone in or outside of her family. Hannah was the neediest and probably the quietest. Hannah kept on going with her family and most probably with no excuse. She was barren but she trusted God for intervention. Year after years, month after months, week after weeks Hannah refused to give up but remained persistent.
Hannah maintained her focus on serving God when God looked upon her and visited her.
You may be wondering what happened in your case. However, waiting on God demands persistence and it will prove to you that you have not been totally forgotten. Be persistent, call on God constantly without doubting. Persistence is demonstration of faith and God is not pleased when there is no faith. Hebrews 11:6 buttressed, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The situation with Hannah was that God had closed her womb and the same God is the only One in position to open her womb. Hannah’s persistence provoked the hand of God to open her closed womb. Hannah’s persistence yielded, God blessed Hannah more than she expected. Know today that God is God. Let no man seal up the close door that is already upon you with negative confessions. Go the way of persistence, understanding that God can choose to open or close the door. He alone is God.
Proverbs 16:22 stated right, “Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.” It is proven through the word of God that understanding is the need for persistence in time of waiting to receive from God. Proverbs 4:5 said it all for us, “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace for understanding in waiting for God’s hand.