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When 2 Turn 11 on "Twosday" 2/22/22

 A friend shared tonight about Hannah in the bible.  Hannah was a woman in the Old Testament who had a sister wife.  Yep! Did you know that was in the bible?  And there were problems.  Real sister wife problems!  The story tells us that the “other wife” had children, but Hannah did not.  It says her husband gave food to the other wife and their kids, but he gave Hannah a “double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb (1 Sam. 1:5).”  Soooo of course there was jealousy and mocking and unequal love… and well, all the stuff you would imagine.  


But what grabbed me is that the scripture says several times that the Lord himself closed Hannah’s womb.  My friend posed the question- how many times has the Lord closed a door for us on purpose, but we couldn’t understand it?  Think of all the agony Hannah suffered- the bible says “year after year” as this went on.  She could see the pain in front of her, but not the whole plan.  The big picture.  She didn’t know there was a Samuel down the road.  Hannah didn’t know the Lord was waiting for the right moment so that a prophet would be born who would change the course of a nation.  She didn’t know that the painful molding of her character would allow her to open her hand and release to God the one thing she wanted to clutch more dearly than anything else in the world. 


But God knew.  


Many years ago there was a couple in south Georgia that battled with infertility.  And then after the prayer was answered, they battled again for years with secondary infertility.  In the moment we could only see the tears and the frustration and the unanswered prayers.  We could not see the whole plan.  The big picture.  We didn’t know there were twins down the road.  We didn’t know their big sister would go to heaven even before they took their first breath.  We didn’t know we would be in such darkness- desperate for a reason to keep going.


But God knew.


And at just the right time He opened Hannah’s womb.    The bible says “the Lord remembered Hannah.”  And she gave birth to her little “heard by God” in Hebrew or as we know him “Samuel.”  And her future was changed.  And the future of a nation was changed.  


And at just the right time God interrupted our pain, and we found out there were two!  The Lord “remembered” us.   Not that He ever forgot… He cannot for He has engraved us in the palm of His hands.  Another meaning for that Hebrew word “zachar” or “remember” is to pierce or to bring to mind- as in the mind is pierced with the thought.. the remembering… as He himself was once pierced… just for us… even though we were but a thought at that time.


And how many times did Hannah cry out and think that God had forgotten her?  That the heavens were brass?  But His timing was perfect.


And how many times did I cry out and feel forgotten?  But His timing was perfect.


The twins were born on 2/22/11.  

My double portion because He loved me came on 2/22/11.  


Today they turn 11 on 2/22/22.  


God could have sent them any time.  And I thought He was late.  But on days like this when I see that my 2 babies are turning 11 on 2/22/22 on a Tuesday, I realize that His timing is perfect.  Coincidence?  Just chance?  I don’t think so.  The significance of this day has been swirling around in my heart for weeks, but I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it.  Until tonight when my friend shared about Hannah.


Once again I am reminded of His grace.  Even in the hard things.  He is shaping and preparing us.  For the beautiful thing He has next.  


And how many times have you cried out and felt forgotten?  But His timing is perfect.


Cry out to HIm, my friend.  He sees.  He hears.  And at just the right time the story line will change.  The Author is good.  And He loves you. 



And this that a friend shared…. Daniel 2:22

“He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.”

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