Does God still heal? Hannah, Jesus & miracles.

Positioning for a miracle?
Lessons from Hannah & others whom Jesus healed.

How many years do you think Hannah was barren?  One clue we have is in verse 7 of 1 Samuel:

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.

10 years?
15 years?
20 years?

Another clue is there was enough time for her rival Peninnah to have many sons and daughters,
​1 Samuel 1:

4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.

The account of Hannah's suffering reveals it took a toll.  She became emotionally distressed and embittered, 

1 Samuel 1:10- And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

It's reasonable to assume Hannah had an extended season of waiting.  A season that seriously tried her soul, made her especially sorrowful during annual worship feasts, and caused her to reject the kindness of her husband.  

Maybe you relate.

Are you in a season of waiting that is deeply affecting your worship, your closest relationships?  Do you need healing?  What is or who is a thorn in your side during the waiting?

What did Hannah do?  How did she position?  What did she say to God?  How can we glean wisdom and hope from her account?  

In the 2nd episode of my new podcast (Knowing Jesus with Gina), I'm looking at Hannah, and also noticing similar details in a majority of healing miracles from Jesus.  

What can you learn?  Are you to reposition?  What things can you open up to that you've not tried before?  How can you soften and open up to the LORD, to deepen in trust and His love?  

I pray that you listen to the episode.  Try taking notes.  Try pausing to write down  interactive questions that I present to you.  Have your bible.  Become familiar with the her story.  Go beyond what I present to you, and read the full account of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 and 2:1-10.  

And notice the New Testament healings of Jesus.  We're to observe that what she did is also found in the behavior and words of others who received miracles from Jesus.  You'll hear me review some of them.  I counted 34 instances within 23 miracles of common behaviors and actions of the one receiving the miracle.

Be wise, slow down, pursue, and position the way they did.  

Hebrews 11:6- But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I'll keep going with the healing theme in the next episode!