God Sees The Provocation You Are Suffering

There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah . . .  He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh . . .
Because the LORD had closed Hannah's womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the House of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"  I Samuel 1: 1-8


Year after year, Hannah suffered ridicule, belittlement, and provocation at the hands of her rival, Peninnah. Peninnah was determined to get under Hannah's skin and make her life miserable. Hannah wept for years as a result of this mistreatment due to her barrenness, but God was the one who had allowed Hannah to be childless. The provocation Hannah suffered at the hands of her rival did not escape the eye of God. God was going to intervene at the right time.

The Bible reminds us that the heart of man is desperately wicked and beyond cure (Jer. 17:9). It is the wickedness of Peninnah that caused her to look down upon Hannah because her need made her vulnerable.  I can only imagine the taunting looks Peninnah must have given Hannah day after day. I can only imagine the demeaning, insulting and provoking words Peninnah must have hurled at Hannah year after year. In the eyes of her rival, Hannah was a failure. Hannah suffered emotionally.

Even though Elkanah loved Hannah dearly, he was helpless in his consolation. His deep love as a husband was not enough to replace the pain of childlessness that Hannah experienced.
The truth is: When others see us as failures because we have not accomplished what is expected of us or what we desire in life; they ridicule, provoke and look down on us. Even the closest people to us are unable to adequately console us. But God understands. God sees all the hidden ridicule and provocation we endure. He is the only one who can adequately intervene.

God sees your situation. He sees the lack you have. He sees and hears the provocation you are experiencing. God sees it all and He will do something about it. You will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Just wait on God (Psalm 27:13-14).


Prayer: Lord, I thank you that you see all that I am going through. My trust is in you alone and I am confident that I will soon see your goodness. Amen.