Today, we continue our message series, Think Ahead, inspired by Craig Groeschel's book, but most importantly, by the Word of God. And by examining the lives of a few biblical personalities, we'll see how they made faith decisions to trust God and not worry.

This teaching is meaningful because our worries often reveal the depth of our trust in God. Whether you're facing upcoming tests, tough decisions, hectic schedules, wayward children, struggling marriages, financial pressures, or health concerns, these worries often highlight where we trust God the least.

The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, urges us to trust God rather than be consumed by worry. Listen to what the Spirit says in Philippians chapter four.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).

That passage teaches us to handle anxiety and stress by following Jesus' words that we will face troubles in this world. The Holy Spirit advises us to replace anxiety with prayer, maintain a thankful attitude, and trust God's peace to protect and sustain us.

To illustrate this today, we are going to look at Hannah in First Samuel and examine her commitment to putting her trust wholeheartedly in God, no matter the circumstances. As we begin in verse one, we see an interesting situation that arose in her house, or, I should say, in the house of…

"A certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite" (1 Samuel 1:1, NIV).

Elkanah was a distinguished man of prominence and a reputable background from the hills of Ephraim. He is about to learn some significant lessons about the complexities and the emotional depth of the women in his life. In verse two we discover that Elkanah still had much to learn about women and the intricacies and dynamics of marital relationships. First of all, we learn,

"He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none" (1 Samuel 1:2, NIV).

Elkanah, despite being wealthy and a good provider, had two wives, which added complexity to his household. This situation likely caused emotional challenges, especially due to the stigma and heartache of Hannah's inability to conceive. Elkanah dearly loved Hannah, probably his first wife, and married Peninnah to have children and continue his lineage. This cultural practice was tough for Hannah, as a woman's value was often tied to her ability to bear children. Imagine the thoughts and feelings Hannah must have had.

I have to think that her desire to give her husband children and the inability to conceive spurred her to pray as David prayed:

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest" (Psalm 22:1-2, NIV).

She likely felt deep shame, wondering if she had done something wrong. Some of you might feel the same way, going through trials, praying for deliverance, provision, or healing, and questioning God’s presence, your actions, and His care.

If these thoughts have ever crossed your mind, remember: God clearly and surely tells us to “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV).

Let’s continue our story of Elkanah and his wife, Hannah, in verse three. This is going to set the stage for the events that follow as we see Elkanah’s devotion and faithfulness to God.

"Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh" (1 Samuel 1:3, NIV).

For years, Hannah had settled into this routine of traveling with her husband’s family to honor God and participate in the religious festivities at the Tabernacle. Verse four tells us,

"And whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah, he gave a double portion because he loved her and the Lord had closed her womb" (1 Samuel 1:4-5, NIV).

In other words, out of love, Elkanah gave a double portion to Hannah, making it seem that she had what she didn’t have. However, the fact that he gave her twice what he gave his second wife only antagonized Peninnah, causing her to resent Hannah even more.

"Because the Lord had closed Hannah's womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her" (1 Samuel 1:6, NIV).

And so, while this annual visit to the Tabernacle should have been a joyful event for Hannah, Peninnah used it as a chance to provoke her, teasing and taunting her about her inability to have children.

Now, being provoked is never pleasant; it’s uncomfortable, it’s irritating and annoying. Verse seven says,

“This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat” (1 Samuel 1:7, NIV).

Imagine how tormented Hannah must have felt, praying for a child while Peninnah taunted her year after year. Some of you may relate, praying for healing, a job, or a special someone, yet feeling unanswered and stuck.

Hannah's story makes me wonder how she kept her faith despite cruel treatment and feeling ignored by God. It reminds me of David's Psalm:

"Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near and no one else can help me" (Psalm 22:11, NLT).

And yet, year after year, it continues, year after year, it is the same: Peninnah provoking Hannah, insulting her, taunting her, and irritating her. As David said,

"I am scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads" (Psalm 22:6-7, NIV).

And I am hoping that you can feel that as the psalmist expresses feelings of deep humiliation and abandonment because that is where Hannah found herself and maybe where some of you are today.

In our text today, Hannah knew what it felt like to be crushed, confused, and in despair. And yet, she recognized that she had not been abandoned and held onto her faith declaring with the psalmist:

"In you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me” (Psalm 25:2, NIV).

And she kept coming back year after year because she had resolved beforehand that no matter what she sees or doesn’t see, no matter what happens in her life, regardless of what God does or does not do, she would trust in God.

“For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from [her] but has listened to [her] cry for help” (Psalms 22:24, NIV).

And so, year after year, her faith continues to grow because faith increases in the trials of life. Faith increases when things aren’t going the way we want them to. And that’s why the Holy Spirit says,

"You may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith…may be proved genuine" (1 Peter 1:6-7, NIV).

Year after year, she went up to Shiloh to worship at the Tabernacle. Year after year she is growing in her own personal relationship with God. Year after year her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. And verse eight says,

“Her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" (1 Samuel 1:8, NIV).

Basically, what he is saying to her is: “Why are you so sad just because you don’t have a baby? You should be praising God because you have me.”

Elkanah is completely unaware of the depth of Hannah's pain, and his attempts at comfort only highlight his lack of understanding. His response is as insensitive as asking a stay-at-home parent, "What have you been doing all day?" This shows a profound misunderstanding of the other person's challenges and struggles.

And so, the Bible says,

“When they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up” (1 Samuel 1:9, NIV).

In other words, they were finished, but she wasn’t. She longed for a child, a blessing that only God could grant. Despite her struggles and her husband's apparent cluelessness, Hannah continued to trust in God. Instead of turning away from Him and doubting His faithfulness, she chose to turn toward Him, and the Bible says,

“In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:10, NIV).

She pours out her heart before God, pouring out her pain, and demonstrating her deep faith. While we don’t know her exact words, it may have been something like David’s prayer:

“Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief” (Psalms 22:2, NLT).

In other words, “Why haven’t you answered my prayers? I’ve been faithful, serving you with my life, but where are you?”

And that is a God-honoring prayer. It doesn’t mean that you don’t trust him, it is a demonstration of your deep desire to keep trusting him. And God can handle your honesty; he would rather have you run to him with your pain than turn your back on him when you don’t understand. So, Hannah is crying out, “God, where are you?” And in the middle of her pain, she makes a promise to God.

“Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life" (1 Samuel 1:11, NIV).

Hannah is deeply absorbed in silent prayer before the Lord, and Eli, seeing her lips moving without any sound, assumes she is drunk and rebukes her. Hannah clarifies that she is not drunk, but is pouring out her heart to the Lord, expressing the bitterness in her soul. After understanding her deep anguish and sorrow, Eli the priest blesses her saying,

"Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him" (1 Samuel 1:17, NIV).

“She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast" (1 Samuel 1:18, NIV).

Notice that, even though nothing had changed outwardly, Hannah went back and started eating again. She was still without a baby, but she was no longer sad. Her prayer remained unanswered, so what changed?

Inwardly, with genuine faith, she decided to trust in the Lord with all her heart and lean not on her own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). She cried out to the Lord, laid down her burden, and trusted that He would act as her faithful God, which lifted her sadness.

Hannah’s circumstances stayed the same, but her heart changed because she put her faith in God. This next verse is powerful.

"Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah" (1 Samuel 1:19, NIV).

They got up again and went to worship the Lord once more, showing powerful faith despite unchanged circumstances. It’s difficult to trust God when you don't understand why He doesn't act after you've prayed and fasted. Still, they worshipped the Lord and went back home.

If you're about to give up, one of the biggest acts of faith is to praise God even when you don't understand or see His work. Worship Him in faith, as the prophet Habakkuk declared:

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior" (Habakkuk 3:18, NIV).

In other words, as you wipe away the tears, lifting your hands to heaven, you worship him for who he is and not what you want. And so, you declare with the psalmist:

"The Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations" (Psalm 100:5, NIV).

That is worshiping God not just for what you see, worshiping him for what he says, worshiping him for his faithfulness in the past, knowing that he will be faithful in the future.

So, they returned home, and the Bible says,

"Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife and the Lord remembered her" (1 Samuel 1:19, NIV).

In other words, Hannah forgave Elkanah for his comment in verse eight about being better than ten sons. Sometimes, we have to forgive and be reconciled before the Lord will move in response to our prayers.

"So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I asked the Lord for him'" (1 Samuel 1:20, NIV).

"Samuel" means "God heard." Every time she called her son’s name, Hannah was reminded of her fervent prayers to God, who heard and answered her.

I don’t understand why God took so long to answer that prayer, but I know His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Sometimes, God needs to work in us before doing something for us. When Hannah dedicated her unborn son to the Lord, she demonstrated her full trust in God.

If you’ve been praying and waiting, remember that God may be working in you first. Can I encourage you to go back and worship the Lord once more? As the Scripture says,

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).

In closing, whether you're new to faith or have been walking with the Lord for years, write down your prayers and the responses. Some people write in their Bibles, others keep prayer journals. Over time, you will see God's faithfulness.

I've been journaling for decades, and even when I don't understand His ways or timing, looking back, I see God's goodness. I can declare with the prophet Jeremiah:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV).

I don’t know who this word is for, but I believe God has a word for someone who was waiting, someone who is hurting and disappointed.

"He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands" (Deuteronomy 7:9, NIV).

And so, God has not left you, he is still here, he is still good, and he is always faithful. And because God has been faithful in the past, we can trust him with our future.

Hannah did this; she resolved beforehand to trust God no matter what, and she dedicated her unborn son to him. When she gave birth to Samuel, she kept her word, and she gave him to the Lord, testifying,

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:27-28, NIV).

Through the faithful prayers of a barren woman, God raised up a mighty man of God. Samuel was both a prophet and a judge, interceding for God’s people, anointing David as king of Israel, and ultimately playing a role in the lineage leading up to the birth of our Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Hannah’s trust in the Lord led to her son Samuel being a pivotal figure in Israel’s history. When the boy was weaned, they brought the boy to Eli and the Scripture says his father, Elkanah, “Worshiped the Lord there” (1 Samuel 1:28).

As we close, I wonder what God might do through you if you choose to trust him with your greatest burden. Whatever that trial, difficulty, or unanswered prayer. What might God do in you and for you in the mighty name of Jesus?

Graphics, notes, and commentary from LifeChurch, Ministry Pass, PC Study Bible, Preaching Library, and Sermon Central. Scripture from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.