There's temptation for believers to seek God for their own ends. We start by seeking God for His glory, but over time, our prayers, worship, and acts are all oriented around what we want from God. In 1 Samuel 4, Israel tries using God to help them defeat the Philistines. It ends in tragedy. Why? Because He’s rescuing His people from their sinful perspective. He’s teaching them to follow Him again.

Has God seemed silent? Felt far and uninvolved? That was the situation in Israel. "The word of the Lord was rare in those days." But little Samuel learns that God is a God who speaks, and that it's important to heed His word. The problem in Israel wasn’t that God hadn't given His Word. The problem was that they weren't listening. So God faithfully sends His Word again to his people through Samuel.

We have an innate sense of justice. We're alarmed when leaders lie, criminals escape, or coworkers cut corners. Who sets things right? Where's God? These questions were raised during the time of Eli the priest and his wicked sons. But 1 Samuel 2:11-36 confirms that God cares and is always at work to set things right. Whatever you're facing, remember that God sees, knows, and weighs all actions.

A hard thing to process in life is when we try to do right but suffer while those who do wrong seem to prosper! This was exactly what Hannah experienced in 1 Samuel 1. But when God answered her prayer, she paused to rejoice. Answered prayer is a reminder that God is sovereign and good. When He answers prayer, it’s right to pause and rejoice, remembering that He’s the God who sets all things right.

Have you felt like God was far away in your misery - even though you're trying to be faithful? In a fallen world, many believers can relate. In First Samuel, Hannah is in misery. Her story questions God. Where is He? Does He hear? Will He answer? Hannah answers with resounding confidence - God hears and answers! Her humility, prayer, faith, and worship teach us to look to God in times of misery.