When Hannah couldn’t conceive in the natural, she became a lightning rod for Heaven’s Dream. 

“…But to Hannah, he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb. Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her severely. And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat.…” (1 Samuel 1:5-7)

When you are called to birth something that can only glorify God, you will endure evident barrenness and provocation from your adversary. You will suffer accusations from friends, family, and religious leaders in your life. The torment of seeming fruitlessness can cause you abandon desire for earthly blessing. Hannah’s husband could not comfort her with carnal love or even a double-portion blessing.   

Let the barrenness stretch you.

Friend, yield to the season. The plans of the Lord are going to blow your mind!

That’s Easier said than done, right?

We must understand as we walk through this valley that our adversary is not flesh and blood, but “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9, ESV)

We are in a war, but not against people. (Ephesians 6:12) 

Be careful to not attack the attackers. Cry out for a humble and pure heart. The humble will be exalted.

Lord is stretching out your tent pegs dear burning one! His plans for you are to mature not harm. The stretching increases your capacity to handle more.

“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth into song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD. Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes deep For you will spread out to the right and left; your descendants will dispossess the nations and inhabit the desolate cities.…” Isaiah 54:1-3

Let the barren season refine you.

• God had closed Hannah’s womb. Not the enemy.
• God was the One she had to pursue, the throne  was where her appeal was made.
• Rebuking and binding, warring, and fighting the rival would not work in this circumstance.
• He was calling Her higher.  
• He was preparing her to birth, something that would change the nation.
• He was delivering her from needing the approval of man.
• He was purifying her desires.

The Hannah Cry is an Ugly Cry

9-10 One time, after they had finished their meal in the house of the Lord at Shiloh, Hannah got up. She was deeply distressed, and she cried bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. Meanwhile, Eli, the priest, was sitting in his place by the door. 11 Hannah made a solemn promise: “Lord Almighty, look at me, your servant! See my trouble and remember me! Don’t forget me! If you give me a son, I promise that I will dedicate him to you for his whole life and that he will never have his hair cut.”

Her prayers were not pretty or peaceful. They were not religious but neither were they impure. She was not drunk with wine but intoxicated with longing. The priest thought she was drunk. Her cries were for the gaze of the eyes of the Lord, not her husband, not the priest, and not her rival! Her cries were for His leadership, His defense, and a gift that she could consecrate and dedicate to Him-alone!  (See 1 Samuel 1:12-16) 

Have you ever groaned and cried out in intercession and been misunderstood? It’s a glorious experience to be misunderstood because of  longing for Heaven’s vision to be manifest in the earth.

Right?! ( I can hear you shaking your head, NO!) 

Well, it will be later! Hold on just a little longer.

These groanings impregnate us for the will of God! 

…25But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently. 26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.…” Romans 8:2

 

Hannah’s barrenness produced a wreckless groan that caused Heaven to stop and respond. In her weakness He was made strong. The Spirit of the Lord knew her heart and mind and He moved from within her.  Eli, the priest rebuked her. But,  he took notice and eventually came into agreement with her prayers! 

 

When Hannah couldn’t conceive in the natural, she became a lightning rod for Heaven’s dream.

 

The Lord struck Hannah with His dream through the stretching, groaning, and purification process of prayer and fasting. He was forming within her more than she could ever ask, think or imagine.  Soon her mourning would be turned to joy.

Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”

Beloved, do you have a Goan like Hannah’s? You are not alone!  You have been marked by God to birth something greater that yourself.  Allow the season of bareness to have it’s work in you! Allow the groan to prepare your character and press you into the place of deep intimacy. Place your gaze on the Bridegroom God! Weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning!( Psalm 30:5b) Keep groaning!