I love the word VICTORY. Don’t you?  That phrase that says, “You made it.  You did it.  You got through it!  YOU WON.”

Because every victory begins with a battle that was defeated.

We are all familiar with the battlefield because sooner or later we will each find ourselves on it.

Sometimes our battles are small.  Sometimes they are giants.

And sometimes they are struggles that no one knows about but God and you.

That’s why we love seeing victories in the lives of others.  Because they bring hope that when we fight our own battles, we will be victorious too.

I love the biblical story of Hannah, a woman who begged God for a child and eventually received one – partially because I have a Hannah story of my own, but also because she is a shining example of a true victory.

But today, I want to focus less on Hannah’s victory and more on how she got there. 

Because there’s a nugget of truth I’d like you to see.

Hannah was a barren woman.  To be barren in Old Testament times was considered a shameful thing, as she had no son to carry on the family line, no child to help with her husband’s work, no one to care for her when she grew old. 

In fact, in Israeli culture, it would have been perfectly acceptable for her husband to divorce her simply because she could not be a mother. 

For years, she endured taunting by her husband’s other wife (who did have children).  Hannah’s typical response to this was to cry, grieve, and refuse to eat. 

Until one day when she finally took action by taking it to God. 

She went to the Tabernacle, fervently prayed for a child, spoke with the priest, made a vow.

And then she left her sorrow there. 

THIS is what got my attention today. 1 Samuel 1:18 – 

She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

Or as my NLT version puts it, she was no longer sad.

Hannah had not yet seen a rescue from her dilemma.  No holy voice from Heaven saying, “OK, Hannah, one baby boy coming right up.”

The only thing that changed in that moment was Hannah.

Her trust in God, her faith.  Her belief that he would provide. 

Even though she had yet to see it.

She transformed from a weeping woman to a faithful one. 

One that decided to give it to God, and to trust.

Hannah did get her child; she found that victory she sought.

But let’s remember that she had no guarantee of a victory back in verse 1:18.

When she left the Tabernacle, she then had a choice to make.  Would she court her sadness? (I have my share of experience with this also!)

Or would she lay it down and trust God?

Sometimes in the thick of our hard-fought battles we struggle to see God through the dust. 

We can’t imagine that a loving God would subject us to such hardship.  We wonder why we are suffering and if God could make any good of it at all. 

So what do we do then?

Am I suggesting that we not feel sorrow in the midst of our battles?  Absolutely NOT. 

Even Hannah didn’t manage that for much of her story.

After all, some of our hardships are wracked with true suffering.  In these times, we have no choice but to walk the path we have been given.  Sometimes this path includes sorrow. 

What I’m suggesting is that we adjust our focus THROUGH our battles so that we are inviting God INTO them.

That we look for the mercies God gives us along the way.  The tiny little victories that matter.

But how do we do that?

• We slit our eyes and peer through the dust with the absolute belief that he is standing on the other side. 
• We scour scriptures for truths, and we hold onto them.
• We cling to the hope that somewhere there is something good to be found in the midst of our struggle. Because there always is.
• We remind ourselves that God ALWAYS uses everything for his purposes. Even hardship. Even losses. Even sorrows.
• And maybe, just maybe — we redefine our expectations for God’s VICTORY.

What is it that you are looking for from God?

What would it take for you to claim a victory? 

Is it the picture-perfect end to your story?

Is it having everything turn out like you had hoped?

Are these the only true victories we should reach for?

NO!

Victories appear in the tiny moments throughout the battle when slivers of light show up and God proves to you that he really is in it. 

It’s when you see God move in a way that only he can, either by moving an obstacle or by moving your soul.

Victory upon tiny victory, until, like Hannah, you can leave your sorrows at His feet. 

Even if for only moments at a time. 

Sometimes a victory comes in our acceptance of whatever God’s will is for us and our ability to peaceably follow.

Because often we win a battle when we learn to accept God’s way and lay our own will down.

Even if we aren’t very fond of his plan.

Friend, I don’t know what your struggle is today.  I don’t know if your heart is breaking or your faith is wavering, or if your days are hard. 

If you need a victory today, know this.  He has not left you to struggle in it on your own. 

So I will leave you with a truth.  A scripture God gave me moments ago just to encourage your weary soul. 

Lamentations 3:22-26 –

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Look up, my friend. My prayer for you is that when you need a victory, you will find it.  And above all, that you will find Him IN it.

With all my love, and hugs for the hard days.

Just hold on.