Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: November 17, 2024
Laura Meyers
Trusting God in the Uncertainty of Our Lives
Life is full of uncertainties. Whether it’s waiting for a prayer to be answered, wondering how events will unfold, or navigating challenging times, uncertainty can feel overwhelming. Today’s scriptures bring us stories of people who encountered uncertainty and trusted God’s promises, even when the path ahead was unclear.
I want to invite you into a time of reflection about the journey we share as a congregation—our spiritual home. Together, we navigate the ups and downs of life, not as isolated individuals but as companions on a walk of love. This journey is one we make with each other through the grace of God, and it is enriched by the gifts we share.
I have been deeply inspired by how you care for one another here at St. Peter’s. I’ve seen how you gather around tables to share meals and fellowship and step forward to support each other in times of need. This is what walking in love looks like—being present, offering what we have, and sharing our lives with one another.
Rev. +Nat pointed us to Paul’s words to the Ephesians in their recent letter to us, and they echo in my heart: the love that binds us together is a reflection of God’s great love for us. God gave to us freely, and in response, we give freely—not out of obligation but because we are motivated by love. When we bring our gifts to the altar, we bring not just our resources but our whole selves, offering our love and labor to God.
This way of giving mirrors the trust we see in Hannah’s story. In anguish and uncertainty, Hannah brought her whole self before God. She poured out her heart, not demanding but trusting. And even before her circumstances changed, she found peace in God’s presence. In Hannah, we see that bringing our offerings to God—whether prayers, gifts, or acts of service—is an act of faith. It’s an acknowledgment that all we have and all we are belongs to God.
From Hannah’s desperate plea for a child to Jesus’ words about tumultuous times, we see how faith calls us to lean into God’s presence, not just for answers but for the assurance that God is with us, working in ways beyond our comprehension.
In the story of Hannah, we find a woman weighed down by sorrow. Year after year, she faced ridicule and heartache because she couldn’t conceive. Her prayers seemed unanswered, and her hope grew thin.
But Hannah didn’t stop praying. In her pain, she turned to God, pouring out her soul in raw honesty. And what did she do when Eli, the priest, misjudged her tears? She calmly explained her heart, trusting that God could hear her even when others misunderstood.
Have there been times when you felt deeply misunderstood—when others misjudged your intentions, emotions, or struggles? How did you respond in those moments? Did you find ways to explain yourself, or were you met with grace? Perhaps, like Hannah, you turned to God in prayer, trusting that God sees and hears you even when others don’t.
Hannah’s faith reminds us that when we bring our struggles to God, we’re not demanding instant results—we’re placing our trust in God’s timing. Her story shows us that God hears and responds, often in ways that go beyond our expectations. God answered her prayer with Samuel, who would go on to lead Israel, but more importantly, God met her in her anguish and gave her peace before her circumstances changed.
Hannah’s song of praise reminds us to celebrate God’s faithfulness. Her words proclaim a God who lifts the lowly, fills the hungry, and works through the unexpected. This is the same God who calls us to walk in love -in the community—a community where we lift one another up, share our joys and sorrows and extend God’s love through our actions. At St. Peter’s, we embody this calling when we gather, care for one another, and welcome all who seek to know God’s grace, creating a spiritual home where everyone’s gifts and stories are valued, seen, and heard.
Her song is more than personal gratitude—it’s a bold proclamation of God’s transformative work. It foreshadows Mary’s Magnificat by celebrating God’s faithfulness and justice, particularly in uplifting the lowly and humbling the proud. Both songs proclaim a God who reverses societal norms: Hannah rejoices in a God who “raises the poor from the dust” and “lifts the needy,” while Mary declares that God “has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.” Each song highlights God’s intervention in human history to bring about justice and redemption, emphasizing that God’s work often defies human expectations and celebrates the power of divine grace.
As Jesus reminds us in today’s gospel, life is full of uncertainties. We are living in a time of upheaval, much like the disciples hearing about wars and earthquakes. But Jesus assures us that these are only the beginning of what God is bringing to birth. Even in chaos, God is working to bring forth new life.
“Do not be alarmed,” Jesus says. These events are “but the beginning of the birth pangs.” Just as labor pains precede new life, the struggles we face are not the end but part of God’s redemptive work. In the same way, our acts of stewardship—our giving of time, talents, and resources—are part of the labor pains that help bring forth God’s kingdom. Stewardship is not merely a response to immediate needs but an act of trust and hope, a way of participating in the new life that God is continually birthing in our community and the world. Through our faithful stewardship, we declare that we believe in God’s redemptive work and are committed to being part of it, even amidst uncertainty.
Beloved, our God is faithful. The God who heard Hannah’s prayer, who sent Jesus to make a way for us, and who assures us in uncertain times is the same God who walks with us today. When we share our gifts, we proclaim that trust. We embody the love that sustains us through uncertainty, the love that brings hope to one another, and the love that binds us as God’s people.
May we bring our struggles and uncertainties to God, trusting that God hears us. May we celebrate God’s faithfulness, live in confidence through Christ, and encourage one another as we journey together. And may we trust that even in the midst of chaos, God is working to bring about something new.
As you consider what you will give to support our shared ministry this year, I invite you to reflect on how others have walked with you in love. Give thanks for those who have encouraged you, for those who have shared their gifts with you, and for the God who meets you in every moment.
Faithful God,
You hear our cries and meet us in our need.
Help us to trust in your promises, even when we cannot see the way ahead.
Teach us to draw near to you with confidence, to encourage one another as we walk in love, and to trust in your redemptive work.
May we, like Hannah, proclaim your faithfulness with joy,
And may we rest in the assurance that you are with us always,
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.