Whenever a story is presented to us, there is usually a hero and a villain, and regardless of the personality type of an individual, we all tend to love the heroes and hate the villains. This is the normal disposition of every human being- to fight the villain. However, with the introduction of a perspective about the villain, you would likely move from hating them to empathizing with them; you might even begin to love them.

The story shared in 1 Samuel 1 is one I always find very intriguing. We see Elkanah, Hannah (Elkanah’s first wife) and Peninnah (the second wife). Hannah is said to be without children, while Peninnah has children. As you probably already know, Peninnah then begins to spite Hannah because of her barrenness.

I was ready to take two-by-two to flog Peninnah because why would you mock another person’s pain? But a particular statement stopped me in my tracks- and this is where we begin to draw our lessons.

I Samuel 1:5 NKJV
[5] But to Hannah, he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb.

The Bible clearly shows us that God was behind Hannah’s pain- the inability to conceive, the reason she cried every night and the situation that made her iyawo insult her. This our good God was right behind it.

If you say that God was the reason Peninnah could mock Hannah, you would not be wrong at all.

In the face of mockery, insults and hatred, there are many ways our minds can process responses. Hannah could have given aura for aura, which would have been to insult her as well. Alternatively, she could have escalated it and gotten into a fight, so Elkanah could have some referee work to do. She could have also decided to just leave the house and dump the marriage because it is giving toxic.

However, she did none of that. Instead, she took it to God; Hannah took her pain to God- not to social media, but to God.

There are a number of lessons to draw out of this story, lessons that show us exactly what to avoid if we really want to advance to occupy.

First thing would be OFFENCE. When you are on the verge of entering something God has prepared for you, many opportunities for offence would arise. As a matter of fact, this is a good sign that you are about to enter something new.

Hannah could have been offended at God, because why would you close my womb? You are God, and I serve you. Why would you withhold a blessing from me? I have been faithful, but you have allowed me to be mocked.

She could have been offended at her husband, Elkanah, because if I were really more than ten sons to you (as he said to her), why then did you marry another wife and you keep impregnating her, and she keeps giving birth? I am really more than ten sons!

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She could as well have been offended at Eli for thinking her to be drunk while she prayed her heart out. So many opportunities for offence, but you see how she chose not to be offended.

Rule number 1: Offence is a roadblock to your resolve to Advance to Occupy. Both can never co-exist.

The trials are for your good, not against you. Some of us find ways to escape at the sight of any kind of discomfort. What you must understand is that God is more interested in who you become in situations than the results you hold in your hands. We want the Samuels, but we want to escape the process that led to Samuel. Once you find yourself in a context that seems hard on your flesh, inconvenient orslower than the progress of others, you are already finding ways to run out.

It is God who closed her womb. God sometimes closes doors; shuts you out of opportunities. The reason is because He is more concerned with your spiritual stature than the testimony that excites you physically.

Rule number 2: The fire comes to help you advance to occupy. Endure it with grace.

Thank God for Peninnah! If not for Peninnah, there might be no Samuel. She mocked Hannah so much that it forced her to pray with such fervency and intensity.

Many times, we only love our Elkanahs, those who will flatter us and make us feel good, regardless of the reality of our lives. Elkanahs are good, but Peninnahs are necessary.

The boss who is hard on you and seems to frustrate you.
The family member who mocks your faith because you are broke.
The colleague who keeps giving snide remarks.
The situations that laugh at your pain.

Thank God for Peninnah and allow her to do her work, because we all need her to get vexed enough in our spirits and press into what God has already prepared for us.

Adversities are the midwives of our advancements.
Mockery is assigned for our maturity.
Obstacles are the aids for your occupying.

Although Peninnah thinks she is against you, God is using her for you.

Rule Number 3: Nothing works against the man that God’s hand is upon.

I pray that God shifts our perspective so we stop fighting the things that are assigned to help us advance.

For His Glory,

Pipeloluwa Abolarin.
IG: @pipe.loluwa

Push Buttons is a weekly devotional of The PowerPoint Tribe.