Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 1:19–28

Answered Prayer and Returned Praise

Morning breaks, and with it comes quiet hope. Hannah has prayed, poured out her heart, and surrendered her longing to God. Now, we witness what happens next, not just in her womb, but in her spirit.

“The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to worship before the Lord. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.” (1 Samuel 1:19, CSB)

The phrase “the Lord remembered her” does not mean He had forgotten. In Hebrew, to be remembered by God means He moved with intention. He acted. Not because Hannah’s words were perfect or poetic, but because they were real. Honest. Offered with an open hand.

This phrase meets us tenderly when we feel forgotten. When our prayers seem to disappear into the silence. When others are receiving what we are still waiting for. The story of Hannah reminds us, He sees. He hears. He remembers.

Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 1:9–18

A Bold Step of Faith

When we last saw Hannah, she was in deep anguish—misunderstood even by her husband. Yet here, something shifts. She stands. She walks toward the temple. And she pours her soul out before the Lord.

“Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up.” — 1 Samuel 1:9

Those three words—Hannah stood up—mark more than physical movement. They speak of spiritual courage. She stood up in her sorrow, in her exhaustion, in her heartbreak. That kind of rising doesn’t come from strength—it comes from surrender.

Have you ever had to do that? Maybe you were the mom who got up again after another sleepless night, the wife who chose love after a painful argument, the daughter who showed up to help when her heart was hurting too. Like Hannah, you didn’t rise because everything was okay—you rose because you knew where to go.

Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 1:1–8

The story of Hannah begins not with a miracle—but with emptiness. Her name means "grace" or "favor," but what she experiences is deep sorrow and longing. We meet her in the middle of a heartache that many women still face today—grief over what hasn’t yet been, and pain over what others seem to receive so easily.

Hannah is married to Elkanah, a man whose name means "God has created." Though he loves Hannah deeply, he also has another wife, Peninnah, whose name means "pearl." Peninnah has children; Hannah does not. And in that cultural context, barrenness was not just disappointing—it was devastating. A woman’s identity, worth, and future were tightly woven with her ability to bear children.

"But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb." (1 Samuel 1:5)

This verse highlights a profound tension: God had allowed Hannah’s barrenness, and yet her husband loved her deeply. Still, Elkanah’s love could not fill the void she felt. His well-meaning attempts to comfort her fell flat:

"'Why are you weeping, Hannah? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?'" (1 Samuel 1:8)

His words echo the experience of many modern women—feeling misunderstood in their grief, even by those who love them.

Ruth 4 and the Beauty of God’s Timing

Hey sweet friend,

We’ve reached the final chapter in the book of Ruth—and wow, what a beautiful ending it is. Ruth 4 wraps up this tender story with redemption, restoration, and a future more meaningful than anyone could’ve imagined. And if you’ve been walking through your own season of waiting or wondering, this chapter might just be the breath of fresh hope your heart needs today.

Let’s walk through it together—just us girls, Bible in hand.

A Story of Trust, Redemption, and God’s Loving Providence

There’s something tender and sacred about Ruth chapter 3. It reads like a quiet whisper of hope—a woman’s faith, a mother-in-law’s wisdom, and a Redeemer’s heart.

Naomi, wise and loving, recognized it was time to help Ruth find a permanent home—a place of belonging and provision. She knew Boaz—kind, generous, and trustworthy—and knew he was more than just a good man. He was their kinsman-redeemer: a family protector, someone who could restore what had been lost. Isn’t that a beautiful foreshadowing of Jesus? Boaz points to our ultimate Redeemer, who rescues us from spiritual poverty and adopts us into His everlasting family (Ephesians 1:7; Galatians 4:4–5).

Naomi’s instructions to Ruth may sound unusual to us today, but they were deeply practical, symbolic, full of cultural meaning, and wisdom. She told Ruth to wash, anoint herself with perfume, and put on her best garments. It wasn’t just about appearance—it was about preparation. About stepping forward in faith and hope.

When Favor Finds the Faithful

There’s something quietly breathtaking about the way God weaves together moments that seem small—even ordinary—and turns them into something beautiful. Ruth’s story reminds us that God meets us in our faithfulness, right in the middle of our daily obedience.

Ruth didn’t know what the day would bring. There was no thunder from heaven, no booming voice to tell her where to go. Just a quiet, determined heart and a willingness to step out in faith.

She asked Naomi if she could go into the fields and pick up leftover grain—whatever was left behind by generous hands. Naomi agreed, and Ruth went, not knowing she was walking straight into a divine appointment.

Welcome to a journey through one of the most beautiful, redemptive stories in Scripture—the story of Ruth. Over the next four posts, we’ll be diving deep into each chapter of Ruth's story, discovering the incredible lessons of faith, loyalty, love, and God's quiet but unshakeable faithfulness.

Through each chapter, we’ll uncover not only Ruth’s journey of faith but also how God uses everyday women like Naomi and Ruth to show His power, provision, and perfect timing. As we walk through each step of their story, my prayer is that you will find hope and encouragement in your own journey.

Let’s dive in!