“A Time to Let Go.”

Dear Friends,

I was so moved by your stories and thoughts when I posted this message, “A Time to Let Go.” Yes, it is one of the toughest things that we have had to learn. Let me share another story about “letting go.”

In 1 Samuel, chapter one, we read about a righteous man named El-ka-nah. He had two wives. One was Hannah and the other, Pe-nin-nah. The Bible says that Peninnah had children but Hannah had no children. In Bible days, for a wife “not to have children,” was a great disgrace. Every woman wanted a child, a male child. Every time they went to the sacrifice, we find that Elkanah gave his Peninnah a “portion,” but he always gave Hannah a “worthy portion.” He loved Hannah but all his love could not buy her a child. To make matters worse, her adversary (the other wife), tormented Hannah because “she could not bear children.” (What an adversary!)

It happened one time when they went to the sacrifice; Hannah was praying and Eli, the priest, saw this woman crying and pouring her heart out to God, but she was praying “quietly.” God heard her prayer and spoke to Eli to tell her, “go home. God has granted your request!” She went home and became pregnant, had a male child and called his name “Samuel.” She decided not to go to the yearly sacrifice anymore until she had “weaned her child, her only child,” and her only “male child.”

Now, here’s a story about “letting go.” She took her child, her only child, to the temple when he was about two years old. She had made a little coat for him and presented this “toddler” at the gate of the temple to Samuel, an “old prophet.” As far as we know, there were no women there to take care of this baby, that she “so adored.” She had to kiss him good-bye, because “it was time to let go.” I don’t think I could have done this… but, God let Hannah know “she had to let go,” so that God could turn little Samuel into the greatest prophet that Israel has ever known!!!

And oh, yes, God gave her “other children,” all because she had learned to “let go.” This is part of being obedient… it is not easy, but it is required of a steward of the Lord. To those reading this, I feel your pain, but there are great blessings ahead for you. “Let go and let God!”

Sherry