Day 2: Show Up
After a disastrous meal with her family, one that ended with her weeping and refusing to eat, Hannah’s next move was something instrumental in seeing her miracle. She showed up to the temple. She was a mess, but she still showed up. When she got there, she let out a cry that you completely understand if your heart has ever been shattered by loss and disappointment. She was such a mess that the priest thought she was drunk. Eli asked Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:14 “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” Hannah had a great response. She replied and told him:
“No, my lord. I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” (1 Samuel 1:15-16 ESV).
It was clear that Hannah did not have it all together, but she still showed up pursuing God. In the middle of her despair, she poured out her soul before the Lord. She didn’t try to show up after she pulled herself together, but she spoke to God in the middle of her anxiety and worry!
In his book, “The Pursuit of God”, A.W. Tozer said “..church attendance will enlarge our outlook and increase our love for others...but at the bottom of all these things, giving meaning to them, will be the inward habit of beholding God.” Real, relentless hope doesn’t come without an intimate relationship with God. Church is one strategy for building that relationship. I can’t tell you how many times I have dragged myself there, showed up despite my feelings and God met me there and spoke the right message through the pastor.
After each miscarriage, the first emotion that tried to creep in was shame. Shame attacks a lot of people. Whether it’s a failed job, business venture, or relationship, the enemy wants to use shame to keep you down. Not only will shame try to keep you down, but it will also try to keep you isolated. Discouragement, disappointment and despair will all try to do the same thing to you. Showing up to church is also instrumental in fighting isolation. There is something powerful about being rooted in a local church, finding people to be vulnerable with and that will pray for and encourage you.
If you have a church, make it a mission to always show up every week, not just when you feel like it. If you don’t have a church, you should find one. If we just showed up when we felt like it, we might not go very often. But if you show up each week expecting God to speak to your heart and help you build community, He’ll meet you where you’re at.
Verses
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have perfect peace. In the world, you have tribulations and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the word. [My conquest is accomplished, my victory is abiding.] – John 16:33 (AMP)
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
“Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.” – 1 Samuel 1:9-10 (NLT)
