Returning to God: Trust, Surrender, and Renewal
Summary
The story of Samuel begins in a time of spiritual and moral decline for Israel, a period marked by chaos and disobedience. The people had drifted far from God, and even those who claimed to follow Him often did so in a half-hearted, culturally compromised way. Into this context, Samuel’s family emerges—faithful in name, but not fully living out their calling. Elkanah, Samuel’s father, is a Levite but not serving as a priest, and his family’s spiritual rhythm is reduced to an annual visit to the tabernacle. This sets the stage for God to do something new through unexpected people.
Hannah, Samuel’s mother, is introduced as a woman deeply burdened by her inability to have children, a source of shame and pain in her culture. Despite her anguish and the taunting she endures, Hannah’s response is to pour out her heart honestly before God. She doesn’t offer a polished prayer, but a raw, vulnerable plea, promising that if God gives her a son, she will dedicate him fully to the Lord’s service. This act of surrender is not just a transaction, but a profound act of trust—she leaves her burden with God and finds peace even before her prayer is answered.
When God answers Hannah’s prayer, she follows through on her promise, bringing Samuel to the tabernacle to serve God for his entire life. This act of returning Samuel to the Lord is both a fulfillment of her vow and a powerful declaration of her deepest desire for her child: that he would belong to God above all else. Hannah’s story challenges us to examine our own lives for areas where cultural norms have dulled our sensitivity to God’s ways, and to consider what it means to truly surrender our burdens and our loved ones to Him.
Samuel’s dedication marks the beginning of a return to God, not just for his family, but for the nation of Israel. His life becomes a turning point, a reminder that God invites all of us—no matter how far we’ve wandered—to return to Him. This invitation is made possible through Jesus, who opened the way for us to come back to God, not by our own merit, but by His grace.
Key Takeaways
- Cultural compromise can quietly erode our faithfulness to God. Just as Israel accepted practices like polygamy and neglected the Sabbath, we too can become comfortable with things that don’t align with God’s will simply because they are normalized around us. Regular self-examination is necessary to ensure our lives are shaped by God’s Word, not just by what is culturally acceptable. [28:00]
- Deep pain and longing are not barriers to God, but invitations to honest prayer. Hannah’s willingness to pour out her anguish before God, without pretense or polish, models a kind of prayer that is raw, real, and transformative. God meets us in our vulnerability, not in our perfection. [37:25]
- True surrender means leaving our burdens with God, not picking them back up after we pray. Hannah’s peace came not when her circumstances changed, but when she entrusted her pain to God and chose to rest in His care. Practicing this kind of trust requires intention and repetition, training our hearts to let go and let God carry what we cannot. [39:34]
- Our greatest desire for those we love should be that they belong to the Lord. Hannah’s act of returning Samuel to God challenges us to examine our hopes for our children and loved ones. Beyond health, success, or happiness, the most important legacy is a life devoted to God—a prayer and declaration we can speak over those we care for. [43:48]
- God’s invitation to return is always open, no matter how far we’ve wandered. The story of Samuel is ultimately a story of return—of individuals and a nation coming back to God. Because of Jesus, this invitation is extended to us daily, whether we are coming to Him for the first time or returning after a season of distance. Repentance and restoration are always possible in Christ. [49:14]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Summer Electives and Announcements
[03:45] - Introducing the Life of Samuel
[07:20] - Israel’s Spiritual Decline and the Judges
[12:30] - Samuel’s Unique Role in Israel’s History
[21:08] - The Setting: Samuel’s Family Background
[22:20] - Elkanah’s Lineage and Spiritual Condition
[23:51] - Cultural Compromise and Spiritual Apathy
[28:00] - Hannah’s Pain and Cultural Stigma
[29:37] - Hannah’s Honest Prayer
[37:25] - Pouring Out Our Hearts to God
[38:31] - Trusting God with Our Burdens
[41:16] - Practicing Surrender and Trust
[42:44] - Hannah Fulfills Her Vow
[43:48] - Returning to the Lord: Samuel’s Dedication
[48:05] - The Invitation to Return to God
[51:10] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Story of Hannah, Samuel, and Returning to God
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### Bible Reading
- 1 Samuel 1:1–28 (The story of Hannah’s prayer, Samuel’s birth, and his dedication to the Lord)
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### Observation Questions
1. What was the spiritual condition of Israel during the time Samuel was born? How is this described in the passage and the sermon? [[07:20]]
2. How did Hannah respond to her pain and the taunting she experienced from Peninnah? What did her prayer look like? [[29:37]]
3. What promise did Hannah make to God if He answered her prayer? How did she fulfill that promise? [[42:44]]
4. After Hannah prayed, what changed for her before her circumstances changed? [[38:31]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the story emphasizes that Elkanah’s family was “faithful in name, but not fully living out their calling”? What does this reveal about cultural compromise and spiritual apathy? [[23:51]]
2. What does Hannah’s raw and honest prayer teach us about how God wants us to approach Him with our pain and burdens? [[37:25]]
3. The sermon points out that Hannah found peace before her prayer was answered. What does this suggest about the nature of true surrender and trust in God? [[38:31]]
4. Why is it significant that Hannah’s greatest desire for her son was that he would “belong to the Lord his whole life”? How does this challenge our own hopes for those we love? [[43:48]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon warns that cultural compromise can quietly erode our faithfulness to God. Are there things in your life that you’ve accepted as “normal” because everyone else does, but that don’t line up with God’s Word? What is one area you feel challenged to examine more closely? [[28:00]]
2. Hannah poured out her heart to God in honest, unpolished prayer. When was the last time you prayed like that—raw, real, and vulnerable? What keeps you from praying this way, and what would it look like to try it this week? [[37:25]]
3. After praying, Hannah left her burden with God and found peace before anything changed. Is there a burden you keep picking back up after praying? What practical step could you take this week to “leave it there” and trust God with it? [[39:34]]
4. Hannah’s act of dedicating Samuel to the Lord was a powerful declaration of her deepest desire for her child. If you’re a parent (or have loved ones you care deeply about), what is your greatest hope for them? How can you pray or speak this over their lives? [[43:48]]
5. The story of Samuel is about returning to God, both for individuals and a whole nation. Is there an area of your life where you sense God inviting you to “return” to Him? What would repentance and restoration look like for you right now? [[49:14]]
6. The invitation to return to God is open every day because of Jesus. If you’ve been distant from God, what is one step you can take this week to move closer to Him? [[50:09]]
7. The sermon encourages practicing surrender and trust as a regular habit. What is one way you can intentionally practice leaving your worries with God this week? [[41:16]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to spend a few moments in silent prayer, pouring out their hearts to God as Hannah did, and then pray together for the courage to leave their burdens with Him and trust Him with their deepest hopes and pains.
Devotional
Day 1: Pouring Out Your Heart Before God
Hannah’s story reminds us of the power and necessity of honest, vulnerable prayer. She did not hold back her anguish or try to present a polished version of herself before God; instead, she poured out her pain, sorrow, and longing in a raw and real way. This kind of prayer is not about saying the right words or looking put together, but about bringing your true self before the Lord, trusting that He cares deeply for what burdens you. When you pour yourself out before God, you invite Him into the deepest places of your heart, and you open yourself to His comfort and presence in the midst of your struggles. [37:25]
1 Samuel 1:10-16 (ESV)
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.” As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”
Reflection: What is one burden or pain you have been holding back from God? Take time today to pour it out honestly before Him, without worrying about how it sounds.
Day 2: Leaving Your Burdens with God
After pouring out her heart, Hannah did something incredibly difficult—she left her burden with God and walked away in peace, even before her prayer was answered. This act of trust is a powerful example for us: it is not enough to simply tell God our worries; we are also called to leave them with Him, resisting the urge to pick them back up and try to solve them ourselves. This kind of surrender requires practice and intentionality, choosing to trust God’s goodness and sovereignty even when the outcome is still unknown. [39:34]
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
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 worry you keep picking back up after praying? How can you practice leaving it with God today and trusting Him with the outcome?
Day 3: Examining Cultural Norms in Light of God’s Word
The story of Elkanah’s family reveals how easy it is for God’s people to accept cultural practices that are out of step with God’s will, simply because they have become normal. Just as polygamy and neglect of the Sabbath became commonplace in Israel, we too can become comfortable with attitudes or behaviors that do not align with Scripture. God calls us to regularly examine our lives and our culture, asking whether we have allowed anything to become “normal” that is actually outside of His design and desire for us. [28:00]
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Reflection: Is there a “normal” practice or attitude in your life or community that you sense does not align with God’s Word? What step can you take today to address it?
Day 4: Dedicating What Matters Most to the Lord
Hannah’s willingness to give Samuel back to God, even after years of longing and waiting, is a profound act of faith and surrender. She recognized that her child ultimately belonged to the Lord, and she trusted God enough to release her most precious gift into His hands. This challenges us to consider what we are holding onto most tightly—whether it’s our children, our dreams, or our plans—and to ask if we are willing to dedicate those things fully to God, trusting Him with their future. [42:44]
1 Samuel 1:27-28 (ESV)
For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord. And he worshiped the Lord there.
Reflection: What is one area of your life or one person you are holding onto tightly? How can you dedicate them to the Lord in prayer today?
Day 5: Returning to the Lord
The story of Samuel and Israel is ultimately a story of returning—of coming back to God after seasons of wandering, compromise, or sin. God’s invitation to return is always open, whether you have never known Him or have simply drifted away. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, there is always a way back, always grace for repentance, and always hope for restoration. Today, you are invited to return to the Lord, to turn from anything that has pulled you away, and to experience the joy of belonging to Him again. [49:14]
Joel 2:12-13 (ESV)
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense God inviting you to return to Him? What is one concrete step you can take today to turn your heart back to the Lord?
Quotes
She pours herself out before the Lord, and then she does something that's really, really, really hard. She leaves it there. And I think so often in our lives, we do, we will, we'll do that first part. We'll go before God and we'll, we'll pour out our requests. We'll be real and honest about our desires and about what burdens us and about all the pain and the struggles and the anguish, and, and we'll pour that out before him, but then we'll stand up and we'll, we'll pick it all back up and we'll walk out carrying the weight still. [00:39:23] (39 seconds)
It's hard to walk out of that room and trust God in a way where we leave it at his feet, where we trust him with it, where we leave the worry and the anxiety behind, where we can rest in him. That is difficult because we have to really, really, really trust him. We have to trust his will. We have to trust his ways. We have to surrender to him in that moment if we're going to really leave it there. [00:40:34] (29 seconds)
We live in a broken world that is full of sin. We live in a world that, that there are all kinds of things that we know don't line up with the will of God that have just become cultural norms. They're just not even a big deal anymore. It's not surprising anymore. It's really expected. And yet, because of what Jesus did on a cross for us 2,000 years ago, because he died, poured out his blood, and then rose again, the price of sin for all time has been paid for. [00:48:23] (38 seconds)
Over and over again, the invitation is there to return to the Lord. I want to challenge you today. Return to the Lord. For some of you that are followers of Jesus, that's just as simple as repenting, calling out to him and saying, God, I am sorry for the ways that I've sinned. I want to turn back towards you, Father. And we can return. [00:50:01] (30 seconds)
For some of us that aren't followers of Jesus, that have never made him our Lord and Savior, that looks like for the first time ever declaring that. Saying, you know what? I need to return to the Lord. I need to come back to him. And if today you're in the place where you're like, you know what? That's what I need to do. That's what needs to happen in my life. I want to encourage you. Our prayer team in the lobby, they would love to talk to you about what it looks like to begin to follow Jesus, to return to the Lord in that way. That invitation is open to all of us. Every day. Because of Jesus. [00:50:32] (46 seconds)
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