Today we begin our teaching series on the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Samuel.

The opening pages confront us with a woman – Hannah, who is in profound inner turmoil. Moreover, her personal crisis takes place in a time when God’s people are spiritually compromised and without any leadership of integrity – anarchy reigned!

I bet that Hannah wondered if God was powerful enough to change such ingrained problems. Even if she believed God could, I suspect that Hannah doubted whether God cared enough to act.

How about us? When our health suffers, when financial strain overwhelms, when relationships break down, when we make mistakes and live with regret, and suffer personal pain and deep crisis – do we wonder whether God is powerful enough to act? Do we doubt whether God cares enough to do something?

Hannah dared to believe that the God who she knew, from His great saving acts in history, was big enough and cared enough to act now for her!

Hannah’s story dares us to believe too. For God has acted in history – His great care is shown to us in giving us His own Son the Lord Jesus, and His almighty power is displayed in raising this Jesus from the dead! Will we dare to call upon this God in the midst of personal crisis, inner turmoil and the anarchy of life around us?

Scott Goode,
Assistant  Pastor