I was recently reading examples of women in the scriptures who faced adversity. In the Bible I found the story of Hannah. A woman who had the righteous desire to bare a child but could not. Hannah was married to Elkanah, who was also married to Peninnah.
And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children- 1 Samuel 1:2
...the Lord had shut up her womb- 1 Samuel 1:5
It's easy to imagine the frustration Hannah could have felt as she watched Peninnah, someone I assume she was close to, have children perhaps effortlessly. It would be so easy for Hannah to compare and wonder in confusion why she had not been blessed the same way.
*Notice the scripture does not state that Peninnah had a child but that she had children (more then one). This pain Hannah felt could have continued for years and years.
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.- 1 Samuel 1:10
I find it comforting to read that even the righteous women in the Bible have felt bitterness of soul. I too have felt that bitterness and have prayed to the lord and wept sore.
And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. - 1 Samuel 1:6
To me, these felt like heart shattering words. Never have I been able to identify with the feelings of someone from the bible like I did when I read this about Hannah.
Her adversary (Satan, who hates our guts and wants us to feel miserable) provoked her sore (he knew right where she hurt and I have no doubt he turned this “sore” into self doubt and feelings of worthlessness) for to make her fret (Oh boy have I felt “fret”throughout this journey!)
Imagine you're out hiking, you fall and get a big gash in your leg. Someone comes along and just to be obnoxious they take a stick and start poking at your open wound. Ouch!
That is what I imagine when I think about provoking a sore. You take something that is already hurt and you touch it, poke it, and irritate it... Just to be obnoxious!
Satan will do that to us. He knows where we hurt. He's got his poking stick and he is ready to irritate and provoke that sore. He loves when we feel defeat. I have no doubt he takes our hurt and some how he twists it in a way that makes us feel inadequate and insecure. He causes us to fret.
Lucky for us, God also knows where we hurt. He is aware of every affliction. Through our Savior Jesus Christ, weak things can become strong. Our wounds can be healed. And where we once felt broken, we can feel hope and be a strength to others.
God was mindful of Hannah in her affliction. (The scriptures provide several examples of the Lord being mindful of his children.) The Lord is mindful of me, he is mindful of you.
The adversary is real. There are real feelings of discouragement that comes with trial. That bitterness is real. Hardships are real. But God's love is real. His power is real. He has a plan. Rely on Him. Trust in Him. Through Christ, we can do all things.
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