1 Samuel 2:1-10
Your Story
Talk about a time in your life when you felt invisible, when you felt like no one else knew your pain and it seemed like you were on your own. Did you turn to God? If you did, talk about how you felt after turning to God (relieved, peaceful, etc.). If not, talk about how it felt trying to handle things on your own.
My Story and the Bible Story
There are times when we put a smile on our faces but inside we are hurting. We may be sad because we lost someone we love. Or we may be sad because we moved and had to leave all of our friends or because we’re unhappy at school. There are a lot of things that make us sad and sometimes we have to pretend like everything’s okay. When that happens, it’s easy to feel alone, to feel like nobody knows how you feel and that you are all by yourself with your pain. That’s certainly how Hannah felt in 1 Samuel when she couldn’t have a child. But God knew her pain and answered her prayer. God doesn’t always answer our prayers with a yes like He answered Hannah’s, but God always knows our pain.
Read 1 Samuel 2:1-10. From The Message: Hannah prayed: I’m bursting with God-news! I’m walking on air. I’m laughing at my rivals. I’m dancing my salvation. Nothing and no one is holy like God, no rock mountain like our God. Don’t dare talk pretentiously—not a word of boasting, ever! For God knows what’s going on. He takes the measure of everything that happens. The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces, while the weak are infused with fresh strength. The well-fed are out begging in the streets for crusts, while the hungry are getting second helpings. The barren woman has a houseful of children, while the mother of many is bereft. God brings death and God brings life, brings down to the grave and raises up. God brings poverty and God brings wealth; he lowers, he also lifts up.
He puts poor people on their feet again; he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope, restoring dignity and respect to their lives—a place in the sun! For the very structures of earth are God’s; he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation. He protectively cares for his faithful friends, step by step, but leaves the wicked to stumble in the dark. No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle! God’s enemies will be blasted out of the sky, crashed in a heap and burned. God will set things right all over the earth, he’ll give strength to his king, he’ll set his anointed on top of the world!
Hannah reminds us in 1 Samuel that God knows what’s going on. God sees everything. We cannot make it in this life on our own. It is only with God’s help that we can make it. God sees when we are weak and God cares for us. No matter how you feel right now, even if no one else knows it, God does. And you can take comfort in the fact that GOd is walking beside you, ready and willing to give you peace and comfort.
Discussion
• Ask your family if there is anything they are sad/upset about right now. If so, talk about it as a family.
• Talk about ways we can know that God is there (anything from the changing of the leaves, the wind blowing, a phone call or visit from someone, a feeling, etc.). Ask your kids to talk about times when they know God is with them.
Prayer
Ask God to take whatever you are feeling and give you peace.
Jessica Asbell is currently serving as the Minister to Children at First Baptist Church of Roswell, GA. She has worked with children in various capacities at several churches, including Winter Park Baptist in Wilmington, NC, First Baptist of Decatur, GA, and Highland Hills Baptist in Macon, GA. She has a Master of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology and a BBA from Mercer University. In her spare time she loves to read, watch movies, and of course spend time with her sweet kitty, Lucy.
