The source of our joy by Monika Bereczki-Farkas November 15, 2015
Samuel 1:4-20
Mark 13:
Have you ever felt the need for someone who can change your life? Have you ever
dreamt about the perfect man or woman who could make your dream comes true?
Or do you remember when you desperately wanted a baby? Friends, I know that
feeling. I truly experienced it when everyone around me had one or two babies, but
I had to wait for the perfect timing for God.
Hannah, in the Old Testament, really wanted a baby. She desperately felt that
without a baby she was nothing. She had to wait for years and years, but God
listened to her prayer and gave her a son, Samuel, one of the greatest prophets of
the Old Testament What a wonderful story, the woman who had no baby at all for
years, got a beautiful, perfect baby boy as a gift from God.
But there is more pain in this story because Hannah was not the only wife of her
husband, Elkanah. At that time it wasn’t unusual to have more than one wife. We
can remember the story of Jacob, who also had two wives, and also had children
with two servants.
When I was a kid and learned about Jacob, or others who had more than 1 wife, it
did not really shock me. It was in olden times and as a kid I always looked at the
beauty of the stories. I learned the names of the different wives or I was happy
when Joseph’s life turned for the better, but as a kid, I never ever thought about
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The source of our joy by Monika Bereczki-Farkas November 15, 2015
how much pain is hidden in these stories. Then I fell in love with my husband and
I read these stories differently than before. I felt anger and pain for these women
who were not the only ones for their husbands.
The Bible is an interesting book if you really look at what is going on in it. This
book is not about perfect people with the happiest lives ever. Take Hannah and
Elkanah. We know that Elkanah loved Hannah, but she was not his only wife. In
that culture and that time, children were the most important gift for a family. If you
had many children, especially sons, you would be a happy and honoured man. The
future was guaranteed in your sons. Because there were no RRSPs, your sons were
your retirement savings plan. But if someone didn’t have children, he was lost.
That is why a man was allowed to marry more than one wife. This is what
happened with Elkanah, since Hanna didn’t have any children. The second wife
hurt Hannah, and she always felt that she is not a good enough wife. She wanted a
baby, she prayed for a baby, a baby boy. God listened to her prayer and the answer
was Samuel, one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament.
Later many people wished for God, they were desperate for God. And God listened
to His people’ crying and a baby was born, the only son of God, Jesus Christ.
People, who meet Jesus, experience the same joy as Hannah, who was ready to
praise God for Samuel. Our lives become whole with Jesus, but just like in
Hannah’s life there is a lot of pain and suffering, our waiting will not free from
pain and suffering. Jesus knew this very well and that is why he wants us to know
it too.
How many times do we feel that we need someone because we are not a whole,
because we are so broken? We wish for somebody who can give us the missing
part Just like Samuel was the missing joy in Hannah’s life. We wish to be
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The source of our joy by Monika Bereczki-Farkas November 15, 2015
connected to God, we want to see Jesus with our eyes and hearts, but while we are
waiting for Jesus we have to be really careful because not everyone who follows
Him speaks about Him. When we are desperate for Christ it is because the Holy
Spirit is working in us, and this is the key moment. Jesus Christ teaches his
disciples that if the Holy Spirit is with them, they do not have to fear anything.
Yes, Jesus speaks to them about wars, hostility and frightening situations, but He
also tells them why they don’t have to worry.
We know that Christianity is not about following the easy path on which we can do
what we want, but more about fighting against distress, worries, pain, etc. But we
are not alone on this path, Jesus Christ guides us and comes with us.
I do not know about you, but I remember scary moments in my life. I am not
speaking about life threatening events, but I remember how scared I was when as a
small child my little brother and I slept in a different room than my parents and I
heard noises in the night. As a small child I was scared and maybe you think that
is normal, but many years later while my parents slept at home a couple of young
men broke into their home. My father woke up and fortunately drove them away
without physical injury.
I also remember how scared I was when we had physical education and I could
not climb the rope and I had to ask my mom to write a note saying I was really
sick. I also remember that I could not sleep for months before my language exams.
I was scared when I first heard about my father’s cancer. And yes, I have spent
many nights awake because of these scary things and I am sure I can add several
more examples, and I am sure you have more serious cases too but I can tell you
that I have changed a lot.
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The source of our joy by Monika Bereczki-Farkas November 15, 2015
I am blessed with a grandma who spent lot of time speaking to me about Jesus. I
am blessed with a father who taught me the Lord’s Prayer at a very young age. But
it didn’t mean that in those scary moments I had living faith in Christ.
I was like Hannah, who felt the need for someone who could make my life whole.
And it happened. Jesus came to my life and changed everything. I don’t want to
say that I am perfect, or that I know everything about this wonderful, merciful
Saviour, but I am sure that He was the one who changed my life. He was the one
who drove away my fears. Of course there are days when I start to fear again,
when I worry that I won’t sleep at night, but at those times I always know that it is
time to stop and pray. These fears mostly come from a feeling that I am not good
enough. That I am not a good enough mother, that I am not a good enough wife, or
I am not a good enough English speaker. But you know what? When I stop and
pray I feel again and I know again that Jesus Christ is in my life and my future is in
Him too. I do not need to worry about the end of the world, or an earthquake and I
don’t have to worry about how good I am, because He is with me.
When her son was born, this was the source of Hannah’s joy. This is also the
source of our joy. Jesus Christ is born into our lives and He changes everything,
especially the frightening things. I can 100 percent trust Him. I have never ever felt
that He left me alone in my life. I can sing joyful praise or I can shout Hallelujah,
but what I cannot do is to sit in silence and keep everything inside me.
Today I want to share good news with you, Jesus Christ is here with us and you
don’t need to do anything, only listen to Him. He wants you to know how precious
you are. He wants you to know that you are important to Him. He knows how hard
your life is at this moment, and He wants you to know, do not be afraid because
HE is with you. He is the One who will go through all of these difficult situations
with you.
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The source of our joy by Monika Bereczki-Farkas November 15, 2015
Even though you might see the end of the world, or countries fighting each other;
kingdoms attacking one another. Even though you see earthquakes and famines
everywhere. Even though you can be arrested or taken to court because of your
faith. Do not forget that they can kill your body but they cannot kill your soul. You
are saved by Christ.
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