My Desires for His Desires

The barren Hannah, delirious for a child, promised, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life," (1 Samuel 1:11).

She cried out to God the desire of her heart and promised that if the LORD should give her the desire of her heart, she would return it to Him. How difficult this must have been, yet how gracious our God to give to us the desires He has put in our hearts and ask us to dedicate them to His kingdom. How painful yet marvelous to give up a desire completely to Him that He should bless us far more without it. Even should you desire legs to walk and His answer is no, wait and see how abundantly He will bless you and those around you without them.

After physically giving her treasured child back to God:


¹And Hannah prayed and said,

"My heart exults in the LORD;
my strength is exalted in the LORD.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.

² "There is none holy like the LORD;
there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
³Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
⁴ The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
⁵Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
⁶ The LORD kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
⁷ The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
⁸ He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
and on them he has set the world.

⁹ "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
¹⁰ The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the power of his anointed."

1 Samuel 2:1-10