Donna K. Maltese - Secrets of Hannah: A Devotional for Women

2022 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Print ISBN 978-1-63609-193-8

Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-63609-404-5

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher. Reproduced text may not be used on the World Wide Web.

Churches and other noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Barbour Publishing, provided that the text does not exceed 500 words or 5 percent of the entire book, whichever is less, and that the text is not material quoted from another publisher. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: From Secrets of Hannah, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the H OLY B IBLE , N EW I NTERNATIONAL V ERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken the New American Standard Bible , Copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked CEV are from the Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995 by American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Our mission is to inspire the world with the life-changing message of the Bible.

Printed in the United States of America.

I have poured out my
soul before the Lord.

S AMUEL 1 : 15 AMP

H annah was not a queen, a judge, or an ancestor of Jesus. She was just a woman, a wife, in deep despair. For she was barren, a condition that, in those days, made her worthin her eyes and in the eyes of othersdesperately low.

We find her story in the beginning of the first book of Samuel. And although her account is short, we learn many lessons that every woman, no matter what her condition, status, or situation, will find of value. For Hannah was not only a woman of much grace but one who knew the power of prayer and the importance of maintaining an intimate relationship with God. Within her story, we will see how a woman can secure the strength she needs to persevere in the present and find happiness in the futureall while enduring the seemingly unendurable.

The majority of the readings to follow will begin with a verse about Hannah from J. B. Steeles book Sacred Poetical Paraphrases, and Miscellaneous Poems and end with a scripture and prayer. We hope that as you peruse these pages, you will see how God can use the faith of an ordinary woman to demonstrate the power of prayer that rests in our handsand how the results of those prayers can profoundly alter not just our personal story but the story of all Gods people.

H annahs story takes place after the death of Joshua, the man God called to lead His people into the Promised Land. Once each tribe was settled in its designated territory, Joshua and those of his generation were gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the L ORD or the works He had done for Israel (Judges 2:10 HCSB) .

This new generation of Israelites served idols. Enraged at their cheating hearts, the God who had brought their ancestors out of Egypt raised up an adversary against them. After the Israelites had suffered and cried out to God for help, the L ORD raised up judges, who saved them (Judges 2:16 HCSB) . But once any particular judge died, Gods people would soon fall back into their old ways and the cycle would begin all over again.

Its easy for us to shake our heads when reading about these Israelites. We wonder why they were trapped in this vicious circle in which they would anger God by worshipping false idols. God would then allow some disaster to befall them. The people would cry out for rescue, and God would send a judge to help them. For a while the people would enjoy a bit of peace. Then theyd get into trouble by not just ignoring God but replacing Him with a false idol! How could they not see what was happening and change their ways?

Yet dont we do the same? Are there not times when God seems further removed from us than ever, in fact, seems to have moved awaywhen in reality we are the ones who have moved, not He? Then, to fill the gap where God should be, we reach out for a substitute. We latch onto somethingbe it food, money, fashion, a man, or some other poor alternativethat will give us the love, comfort, support, and happiness we crave.

In our spiritual delusion, we think all is well. But then, when something comes our way to trouble us and our false idol proves unable to save us, we cry out to God who, in His never-ending compassion, rescues us. He pulls us in. He binds up our wounds, puts a healing balm upon our broken heart. For a while, relieved and grateful, we stay close to Him. Then, as the days go by, we drift away once again, attracted by something shiny, unique, or alluring in some other way. And before we know it, were in trouble once more!

God doesnt want an off-again-on-again relationship with us. He wants us totally dedicated to Him. So instead of shaking our heads at the Israelites, lets take the splinter out of our own eyes and stick close to the one true God who has an endless supply of all we long for.

God is actually not far from each one of us.

A CTS 17 : 27 ESV

For You alone I reach, because You alone are the One I long for.