When we try to take the throne of our own lives, trying to be in control, it always ends with a feeling of barrenness. We feel empty, fruitless, depleted, or broken. Perhaps, you feel this today. The things you do at work feel fruitless or unimportant. You feel depleted at home like you are losing the battle for your marriage or the battle for your children. Maybe you feel stuck, like you have no purpose. Maybe you feel abandoned or like you are fighting through life alone. And as you look to others for help and leadership, whether it’s politicians, priests, or preachers, you have often been disappointed. When we feel this pain it is hard to imagine that turning our lives over to God could make a difference.

In the book of 1 Samuel, the LORD turned the sorrow and barrenness of a woman named Hannah to fullness and exaltation, preparing the way for the future coming of Israel’s true King and Redeemer. We can understand how the LORD has prepared the way to turn our sorrow and barrenness to fullness and exaltation.