Relishing God’s Favor

1 Samuel 1:4-8

Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters. But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the LORD had kept her from conceiving. Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the LORD had kept Hannah from conceiving. Whenever she went up to the LORD’s house, her rival taunted her in this way every year. Hannah wept and would not eat. “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than 10 sons?”

Elkanah loved Hannah, and he seemed to want to make up for her barrenness by assuring her of his love for her. He favored her over the second wife, and Peninnah may have never become a wife had Hannah been able to have children. His favor toward Hannah, however, seemed to spark controversy within the family unit. Apparently jealous of Elkanah’s attention to Hannah, Peninnah viciously taunted Hannah because of her inability to conceive. Somehow, Peninnah had to prove she was the better woman, so she tried to destroy Hannah’s self-worth.

The Devil cannot stop God’s favor upon your life, but he can cause you not to appreciate it by magnifying your void to you. When all you can see is your emptiness, you fail to see how full God has made your life. Hannah could not be thankful for Elkanah’s love for her because she was constantly reminded of her unworthiness and incompetence before God. He had closed her womb, and Peninnah was not going to let her forget it. By making Hannah think God was against her, Peninnah could cause Hannah to reject Elkanah and try to take first place as wife. Hannah was a threat to her, just as we are a threat to the Devil. He can’t take God’s love away from us; he can only make us think God is rejecting us so we will, in turn, reject Him.

God’s love for you is greater than any blessing you may desire. When you have Him, you have everything! Don’t let the Devil make you feel unworthy or rejected. You are a threat to his agenda, and nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus! Rejoice, oh barren woman! With Christ, anything is possible, and you have His favor. Take your focus off of your lack, and place it upon God’s abundant love for you. Unfortunately, there will always be Peninnahs out there who see you as a threat and will try to prove they are the better woman. In reality, they cannot steal God’s favor upon your life. They can only make you feel unworthy and rejected if you allow them to do so. Reject your Peninnah by relishing in the love and favor God has given you. Nothing will make her madder or put her in her place more than enjoying the favor of God upon your life. Rejoice! The joy of the LORD is your strength!

Have a blessed day!