1 Samuel 1:18 (NASBStr)
She said, “ Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
This verse is the final verse of chapter one in 1 Samuel. The story in this first chapter is about Hannah, the mother of the main character and author of this book, not yet born, Samuel. Hannah was barren. Apparently her barren life had affected her physically. Her competition, the other wife of her husband, Elkanah, mocked her (1 Samuel 1:6); her husband, although compassionate to her, thought himself more worthy than any barren womb (1 Samuel 1:8) and her priest, Eli, thought she was drunk (1 Samuel 1:14). She could not find any relief in those around her so she did what she should do, she came to God in prayer. Like always, God heard her like He hears us. Eli assures her that God had heard her prayer and that changes everything. Although she had no baby in her womb, as of yet, she had peace in her heart. And, peace in the heart changes the expression on the face. Solomon will eventually tell us that out of the heart flow the issues of life. He will tell us that what's in the well comes up in the bucket. We don't have feel it, see it, or taste it (whatever "it" is), but we do have to have faith. Her belief in God and His hearing her prayer changed the perspective of her heart. Her husband's comfort and gifts could not do it. Her attending religious services could not do it. The only thing that changed her face was faith in her heart. That is how God works. He wants us to trust Him and allow Him to change the heart before He changes the circumstances. Eventually she would give birth to Samuel and he would replace Eli as the spiritual leader of Israel. God gives us the opportunity to have faith in Him so that we can get our eyes off the troubles of the world. Once we know He hears us, we can have rest in our hearts and a change on our expressions.
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