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Hannah was in a marriage that had a second wife. There were many sore spots between the two women. Samuel was born to Hannah, a result of the promise of God.
2 Timothy 1 – Before there was a Timothy, there was a godly mother and grandmother. We don’t know much at all about Timothy’s father. What griefs or challenges did these ladies face raising their son Timothy? They raised their son in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Psalms 87:1 – We can fill the water pots with water, but only Jesus can turn the water into wine. Unless the Lord build with us, we labor in vain as we build.
When Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian servant, learned that she was pregnant, looked down on Sarah. Sarah treated Hagar harshly, harsh enough that Hagar ran away. She stopped to rest by a spring of water and the Lord appeared to her. Hagar said, “you are the God who sees.” She was strengthened and encouraged.
We are never alone. A message from God to mothers everywhere… a message for each one of us. Not only did God hear Hagar and see her, He saw and heard her son as well. God is there. “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”
Psalms 141 – We cannot get away from God. Regardless of what we face, we are never alone, God doesn’t take his eye away from us for a minute or two, ever. God sees and is involved and He cares.
Matthew 15 – This daughters need was also her mother’s need. The mother was desperate to find help. No matter what had happened before, this mother came to the right source for help, Jesus. She believed, Jesus said that she had great faith.
Ruth 1 – Naomi wanted to go home after her son’s died. As they were traveling some Naomi decided that it would be better if these moabite ladies would return to their own home and not come with her. Ruth continued on with Naomi and said, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.”
God is good… and He loved Naomi. In just a few weeks after returning home she started to see things differently. The Lord provided a kinsman redeemer for her. We know the story of how Ruth ended up marrying Boaz. God was good and merciful.
Whatever the loss we may be grieving over. If we are faithful we are not losers. There is still purpose, there is fulfillment to be had, God still prospers and blesses faithful service.
For the faithful, loss is not the end of the world. As we look at these women, none of them had ideal circumstances. They all faced difficulties, some very severe trials even, and all the lessons that we looked at applied to all of these women too. God had a role in each of their mothering, in their hearts, in their children’s hearts. They planted, and they watered, and God gave the increase.