Week Four: Stories in the Bible (2)

Jenna Voight

Hannah shows gratitude. 

Hannah was one of the most faithful women in the Bible. Her strength is something so inspiring for us women. 

After Hannah had been struggling, she decided to go to the temple. After she had returned from the temple, her sadness had subsided. Although nothing had changed on the outside, she still had hope that God still had a plan for her.

Faith is described as complete trust in someone or something. Or as some say, trusting in something you can’t see. Hannah had said, "Oh, God Almighty, if you will only see my misery and remember me by giving me a son, then I will give my son to serve you, God, for all the days of his life."  1 Samuel 1:11

Hannah was so thankful for Gods faithfulness that she named her son with a name that acknowledged Gods faithfulness. Hannah’s faithfulness also reminds me of the story of Elizabeth and how she trusted that God would give her a child in her late age. 

“They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.””

1 Samuel 1:19-20 

Don’t forget to thank God this week. And remember that his plan is greater than any plan we could ever make. Have a great rest of your week!

Kayla Paulsen

Jonah gave thanks in the whale.

During this series of gratitude, a great story to reflect on is the story of Jonah. For the unfamiliar, the story consists of the Lord calling a man named Jonah to go to a radically wicked city, called Nineveh, and preach the word of the Lord. However, Jonah tried to run and hide from the Lord’s calling, ultimately landing him in the belly of an enormous fish.  

 

But how does this reflect gratitude? Well, as we read in Jonah Chapter 2, Jonah gives thanks to the Lord and praises him while in the belly of the whale. 

 

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” Jonah 2:2

 

Jonah’s time in the fish helped him reflect on everything to be grateful for, and all that the good Lord has provided him. We can apply this to our own lives by praising the Lord in and through the suffering. 

 

In closing, here is a question to ponder this week: If you woke up tomorrow with only the things that you had thanked the Lord for and were grateful for yesterday, how much would you have?

 - I am extremely thankful for my friends here at UNW St Paul, and God’s amazing creation!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 

1 Chronicles 16:34

 

Have a blessed week She Brews fam!

- Thank you, Kayla for this amazing reminder of how we can be grateful for all we have and have been given. You’re such a light!