Waiting is hard. We’re used to conveniences like Amazon Prime two-day shipping. It’s absolutely wonderful to push a button and have something show up at my house in two-days. One time there was something I needed that didn’t have Prime shipping and I had to wait seven to fourteen days. How barbaric! We’re so used to two day shipping that waiting a week for something to come directly to the front door actually seems inconvenient.

Hannah is a character from the Bible who had to wait. She was waiting for a baby. Her heart deeply longed for a child of her own. But, God closed that door for her and she was unable to get pregnant. Year after year she longed for a child, but nothing changed. Her story is a great example of having faith in God even while you wait for something dear to your heart.

What’s your place of waiting? What’s the one prayer that you are still waiting on God to answer? Is it friendship? A job? To be married? To be healed or see a loved one healed?

One day Hannah visits the temple in Shiloh to pray to the Lord. Read this passage and see Hannah’s faith in the midst of waiting.

⁹ After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. ¹¹ And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” ¹² As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. ¹⁴ And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” ¹⁵ But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” ¹⁷ Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” ¹⁸ And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

1 Samuel 1:9-18

Hannah models three ways to have faith while waiting.

First, GO TO THE LORD. Where do you turn when you need something? Hannah turned to the Lord in prayer. She poured her heart out and asked the Lord to provide for her. She demonstrates faith by going to the Lord. She believed that God was there, that he heard her prayer, that he cared about her, and that he was powerful enough to do something about her need.

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Second, SURRENDER TO GOD’S TIMING. After Hannah prayed she got up and wasn’t sad anymore. What changed? She wasn’t pregnant yet. What changed was that she surrendered to God’s timing. She dropped her great desire off at the feet of her sovereign Lord in faith that his answer would be good. When we don’t trust God, it’s hard to surrender control. But, when we believe that God is good and that his plans are good, then we can surrender control of our lives and even our deepest desires.

²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Lastly, SHE WORSHIPED WHILE WAITING. Hannah took a posture of praise. She didn’t become bitter or cold in her waiting. She expressed her faith even before the answer came. She worshiped. Then, God gave Hannah a baby and she named him Samuel. God provided and answered her prayer. How would you respond to having your prayer answered? Hannah responds in wholehearted worship.

¹And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. ² “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

1 Samuel 2:1-2

Yes, waiting is hard. But, when we have faith, then we can experience peace in our waiting. Would you like to have peace as you wait for your desire to be fulfilled? Then, follow Hannah’s example of faith in waiting. Pray and tell the Lord what you long for today. Then, surrender to his perfect timing and answer. Lastly, take a posture of praise both before and after he answers.

Remember, God answers according to his perfect and good plans. It might be days, months, years or not until heaven when we see our good desires fulfilled. God might say “I have something better in mind”. Regardless of when, know that his answer is perfect, and comes from his great love for us.