Embracing Surrender: Finding Hope in Waiting
Summary
Mother’s Day is a day of celebration, but for many, it’s also a day that brings up deep heartache and longing. My own journey to motherhood has been marked by years of waiting, disappointment, and unexpected turns. From infertility and the pain of closed doors, to the hope of embryo adoption, to the long process of pursuing adoption here in Georgia, I’ve learned that the path to God’s promises is rarely straightforward. Yet, in the midst of all the waiting and uncertainty, God has been present—sometimes quietly, sometimes unmistakably—reminding me that I am seen, heard, and loved.
The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 has been a constant companion through my journey. Hannah’s pain was not just about her inability to have children, but about feeling unseen and forgotten in a culture that measured her worth by her ability to bear sons. She was provoked by her rival, misunderstood by her husband, and even misjudged by the priest. Yet, instead of letting bitterness take root, Hannah brought her anguish honestly before God. She poured out her soul, not holding back her grief or her longing, and in doing so, she modeled a faith that surrenders rather than bargains.
Comparison is a thief of joy and a barrier to seeing God’s work in our own lives. When we fixate on what others have, we lose sight of the unique race God has marked out for us. Compassion, on the other hand, invites us to sit with others in their pain, to validate their experience, and to reflect the presence of Jesus simply by being present. Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can say is, “I’m so sorry,” and to just be there.
Hannah’s story teaches us that prayer and gratitude are not just spiritual disciplines—they are weapons against anxiety and bitterness. When we pray with open hands and a surrendered heart, even our deepest heartache can become holy ground. God may not answer in the way or the timing we expect, but He always hears, and He always remembers. The years of waiting are not wasted; they are seasons where we come to know God more deeply, and where our faith is refined.
On the other side of the miracle, I’ve discovered that I need God even more than I did in the waiting. Surrender is not a one-time act, but a daily posture—entrusting our hopes, dreams, and even our disappointments to the One who loves us most. Whether we are in a season of waiting or a season of blessing, the invitation is the same: to surrender, to trust, and to know that God is good, even when the story doesn’t unfold as we imagined.
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Key Takeaways
- Comparison Paralyzes, Compassion Transforms
When we focus on what others have—especially the things we deeply long for—we become blind to God’s unique work in our own lives. Comparison keeps us stuck, but compassion, both for ourselves and others, opens the door for Jesus to enter our pain and transform it. The call is to run our own race, not someone else’s, and to let compassion, not comparison, shape our hearts. [39:53]
- The Power of Presence in Pain
Quick fixes and well-intentioned words often fall short in the face of real suffering. There is immense power in simply being present with someone in their grief, validating their experience, and saying, “I’m so sorry.” This kind of presence reflects the heart of Jesus and makes unseen heartache feel seen and valued, both in our families and our communities. [41:31]
- Honest Prayer as an Act of Surrender
Hannah’s prayer was raw, honest, and unfiltered—she brought her full anguish before God, not holding anything back. This kind of prayer is not about negotiating with God, but about surrendering our deepest desires and pain to Him. When we pray with open hands, we invite God to transform our heartache into holy ground, trusting that He hears and remembers us. [49:56]
- Waiting is Not Wasted
The years of waiting, longing, and unanswered prayers are not wasted time. In the waiting, God invites us to know Him more deeply, to experience His presence in our pain, and to be shaped by surrender. The fullness of time may not look like what we expect, but God’s faithfulness is often most clearly seen in the slow, hidden work He does in our hearts during the wait. [58:58]
- Surrender is the Key to Both Waiting and Blessing
Whether we are in a season of waiting or have received the blessing we longed for, the call is the same: surrender. Surrendering our hopes, dreams, and plans to God allows us to both give and receive what He has for us. It is in this posture of open hands that we experience the depth of God’s love and faithfulness, regardless of how our story unfolds. [01:00:06]
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Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Mother’s Day Reflections and Personal Journey
[03:30] - Infertility and the Path to Adoption
[07:55] - Embryo Adoption and Seasons of Waiting
[12:40] - Moving to Georgia and New Beginnings
[16:20] - Christmas Series and God’s Prompting
[19:30] - Starting the Adoption Process
[22:10] - The Story of Hannah: Setting the Scene
[25:00] - Rivalry, Comparison, and Heartache
[28:30] - The Trap of Comparison and the Call to Compassion
[32:00] - Elkanah’s Response and the Power of Presence
[35:10] - Hannah’s Honest Prayer and Surrender
[39:00] - God’s Remembrance and the Birth of Samuel
[42:30] - Our Adoption Miracle and God’s Faithfulness
[47:00] - The Gift of Surrender in Every Season
[50:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
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### Bible Reading
- 1 Samuel 1:1–20 (The story of Hannah’s longing, prayer, and God’s response)
- Hebrews 12:1–2 (“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…”)
- Philippians 4:4–7 (“Rejoice in the Lord always… Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God…”)
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### Observation Questions
1. In 1 Samuel 1, what are some of the ways Hannah is misunderstood or mistreated by those around her? How does she respond to these situations?
[[38:12]]
2. According to Hebrews 12:1–2, what are believers encouraged to do when they are tempted to compare themselves to others?
[[39:53]]
3. In Philippians 4:4–7, what does Paul say is the result of bringing our requests to God with prayer and thanksgiving?
[[51:13]]
4. The sermon mentions that Hannah’s prayer was “raw, honest, and unfiltered.” What specific words or actions show this in the passage?
[[49:56]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think comparison is described as something that “paralyzes” us, while compassion “transforms” us? How does this play out in Hannah’s story and in the speaker’s personal journey?
[[39:53]]
2. The sermon highlights the power of simply being present with someone in their pain, rather than offering quick fixes. Why might presence be more powerful than words or solutions in times of suffering?
[[41:31]]
3. Hannah’s prayer is described as an act of surrender, not negotiation. What is the difference between bargaining with God and surrendering to Him? How does this change the way we pray?
[[49:56]]
4. The speaker says, “Waiting is not wasted.” What does it mean for waiting to be a season where faith is refined and we come to know God more deeply?
[[58:58]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon talks about the trap of comparison, especially when we see others receive what we long for. Is there an area in your life where comparison is stealing your joy or making it hard to see God’s work in your own story? What would it look like to “run your own race” this week?
[[39:53]]
2. Think of a time when someone tried to “fix” your pain with words or advice, versus a time when someone simply sat with you and listened. How did those experiences differ? How can you be more present for someone in your life who is hurting right now?
[[41:31]]
3. Hannah brought her full anguish to God, not holding anything back. Are there areas of your life or heartache that you have been hesitant to bring honestly before God? What might it look like to pray with “open hands” this week?
[[49:56]]
4. The speaker shared that the years of waiting were not wasted, but were times of coming to know God more deeply. Looking back, can you identify a season of waiting or disappointment that shaped your faith or relationship with God? How?
[[58:58]]
5. Surrender is described as a daily posture, not a one-time act. What is one hope, dream, or disappointment you need to surrender to God today? How can you remind yourself to keep your hands open to God’s will this week?
[[01:00:06]]
6. The sermon says, “Compassion, both for ourselves and others, opens the door for Jesus to enter our pain and transform it.” Is there someone in your life who needs compassion right now? What is one practical way you can show it this week?
[[39:53]]
7. The speaker mentions that even after receiving the blessing she longed for, she needed God “even more than in the waiting.” How can you stay dependent on God in seasons of blessing, not just in seasons of need?
[[58:58]]
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Devotional
Day 1: God Sees and Hears Our Deepest Pain
In seasons of waiting and heartache, it is easy to wonder if God has forgotten us or if our pain even matters to Him. Like Hannah, who poured out her soul in anguish, we may find ourselves asking, "God, do you see me? Do you hear me?" Yet, Scripture assures us that God is not distant or indifferent. He invites us to bring our raw, honest emotions before Him, trusting that He is attentive to our cries and that our suffering is never overlooked. Even when others misunderstand or cannot hear the depth of our pain, God remembers us and holds our heartache with compassion. [49:56]
1 Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20 (ESV)
"After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, 'O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.' ... 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.'"
Reflection: When have you felt unseen or unheard by God? Can you bring your honest questions and pain to Him in prayer today, trusting that He remembers you?
Day 2: Comparison Distracts Us from God’s Work in Our Lives
It is tempting to look at others who seem to have what we long for and let comparison steal our joy and focus. Like Hannah, who was provoked by Peninnah and surrounded by reminders of what she lacked, we can become fixated on what we do not have, missing the good that God is doing in us. The call is to fix our eyes on Jesus and run the unique race set before us, rather than being paralyzed by envy or rivalry. When we let go of comparison, we make space to see God’s faithfulness and purpose in our own story. [39:53]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: Who or what are you tempted to compare yourself to today? How can you shift your focus to what God is doing in your own life?
Day 3: The Power of Compassionate Presence
When those we love are hurting, our instinct is often to fix the problem or offer quick solutions. Yet, true compassion is found in simply being present, sitting with others in their grief, and validating their pain. Like Elkanah, we may try to make things better with words or gestures, but what people often need most is to know they are not alone. A simple "I'm so sorry" or a shared meal can communicate the love of Jesus and make unseen heartache feel seen. Compassionate presence is a powerful ministry, both in our families and our communities. [41:31]
Romans 12:15 (ESV)
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
Reflection: Who in your life is carrying unseen pain right now? How can you offer them your compassionate presence today, without trying to fix or explain away their struggle?
Day 4: Surrendering Our Hopes and Dreams to God
Breakthrough or breakdown—both can bring us closer to God if we choose surrender. Hannah’s story shows us the power of bringing our deepest desires and disappointments to God with open hands, trusting Him with the outcome. Surrender is not about giving up hope, but about entrusting our hopes, dreams, and plans to the One who loves us most. When we pray with fierce faith and let go of control, even our heartache becomes holy, and we are free to receive whatever God has for us. [52:44]
Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What is one hope or dream you are holding tightly to? What would it look like to surrender it to God in prayer today?
Day 5: Waiting Well and Trusting God’s Faithfulness
Waiting can feel like wasted time, but God is at work in the waiting. The years of longing and unanswered prayers are not empty; they are opportunities to know God more deeply and to trust His heart for us. Whether or not the outcome looks like we imagined, God’s faithfulness remains. As we wait, we are invited to wait with intention, to make plans, to pray, and to prepare our hearts for whatever God has in store. The miracle may not look the way we expect, but God’s goodness and love are always present in every season. [01:02:02]
Lamentations 3:25-26 (ESV)
"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
Reflection: In what area of your life are you waiting for God to move? How can you choose to wait with hope and intention, trusting in His faithfulness today?
Quotes
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