Beloved, if asked to choose between being in Peninnah's shoes or Hannah's, which would you choose? Considering the end of her story, most of us would probably choose Hannah. However, be aware that, in so doing, we would be choosing having to endure a long and painful wait before getting our desires met. We would be choosing a difficult path ridden with seeming unanswered prayers, delays, shame, sorrow, loneliness, ridicule, potential bitterness, envy, offence and other snares of the flesh. In so doing, you would be choosing to have your faith tested over time like Hannah did.

Considering this, and looking at things on face value, Peninnah's path suddenly looks tempting. After all, who likes to suffer? Peninnah didn't have to wait; due to no fault of hers, things worked for her naturally (just as anyone of us would hope). Being in Peninnah's situation, that is, having what you want naturally, with little to no resistance, definitely satisfies. However, compared to Hannah, we see  that it's only for a moment and bears no eternal value. Hannah on the other hand, we can bet, would never have chosen that path of pain for herself, but in the end, we see that she was better off taking the path that required her to depend on God for strength.

So was the trial of faith worth it after all? Indeed it was for Hannah. It's amazing what she gained in the course of waiting on the Lord. Her seeking the kingdom of God first added spiritual value to her; it made her life a reflection of God's ways and wonderful works. While Peninnah manifested her own strength and the temporal, Hannah manifested the strength of the Lord and the eternal. While Peninnah got the best of this world, Hannah got the best of both worlds. She not only become a mother but also became a woman of faith whose life continues to speak and inspire generations even long after her departure from this world. With the benefit of hindsight, we're able to see the bigger picture of Hannahs trial and realise that God worked all things together for his glory and for her good. 

Beloved, from God's perspective we are made better for having passed through experiences that require us to walk by faith; experiences that make us bear fruits of the spirit because, in the process, we are made more conformable to the image of Christ. Therefore, no matter the situation in which we find ourselves, be it Hannah's or Peninnah's, we are to choose to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness. No matter the sufferings and pain we encounter, we are to choose to exercise our faith in God and yield to His leading onto the path of bearing the fruit of the spirit; the path of conformity to the image of Christ. Because in the end we are made better, become blessed and a blessing to many.

                                                 COPY DEVOTIONAL LINK