Surely, you have seen a before and after, even if it was in a photo—someone who started a fitness journey and saw a physical before and after, for example.
Today, we will speak about Hannah, who saw a before and after in her life and left behind an inspirational faith. Each year, she went to the temple (church) in bitterness, depression, and anguish. Year after year would pass by, and her life remained the same. Until the year she decided to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Can you relate? Perhaps there is something that you have been desperately asking for. Something that only God Himself can give to you.
You see, Hannah had been asking God for a child, but the day she decided that that child would be returned to God, He surpassed her expectations. She was known as the barren woman who couldn’t have children, but when she decided that child would be used to serve God all the days of his life. God honored her sacrifice.
And you, what are you known as? The one that is never happy in love? The one in constant financial difficulty? The one who is always sick? The one who is always depressed? There is a before and after for you. You will not have this title any longer. But first, you must decide how this “after” will be used to glorify God.
Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the LORD.” Then they would go to their own home. And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD. (1 Samuel 2:19-21)
May the God of the Bible bless you!
Bishop Bira Joshua
