From "Pressure" (Heavenward Bound, June 2026)
In this issue of HB, we examine three incredible women of scripture who lived in high-pressure situations and consider some lessons we can learn about handling various forms of pressure in a godly manner.
The book of 1 Samuel begins with the story of Samuel’s mother, Hannah. Hannah is one of two wives to an Ephrathite named Elkanah, the other being Peninnah. Her tragic state of affairs is summarized in a single line: “And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.” (1.2) The text goes on to describe her treatment at Peninnah’s hand: “And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.” (v.6)
Consider the multitude of pressures which Hannah would have borne. First: Hannah was barren. (v.3, 5, 6). Socially and culturally, she was a pariah. There were no support groups for barren women, or modern medical techniques to help solve/explain the problem of her childlessness. Second, dealing with a rival wife is a burden God never intended for wives to bear, but additionally this other wife TORMENTS Hannah. Try to imagine what this would have been like. (Imagine the kids birthdays.) Third, Hannah went to the Temple with her husband, Elkanah, year after year. She was a worshipper of YHWH, of God, and yet YHWH was the one who had closed her womb. Can you imagine the feelings of conflict within the soul of this faithful woman? Fourth, in the text Elkanah is described as being upset at her being upset. Hannah, understandably, is weeping and cannot eat, and Elkanah takes this personally. “Am I not more to you than ten sons?” (v.8) Elkanah (as husbands are prone to do) takes this the wrong way and fails to improve matters.
The story hinges on a single question: Under these immense pressures, what would Hannah do?
Under pressure, Hannah poured out her heart to God.
1 Sam. 1.9-15 describes Hannah making an unscheduled visit to the Tabernacle, alone. She prays to YHWH in such an intense manner that she can’t even make audible sounds. (Have you ever been so upset, so overwhelmed with emotion that you can’t speak?) And yet, Hannah continues praying, knowing that the God who we worship can hear our prayers even when we haven’t the strength to give them voice! She prays with such intensity that Eli presumes her drunk! Further, she ADMITS to Eli that not everything is alright. It takes humility to admit that you are broken and seeking God! Under unimaginable pressure, Hannah turned to the ONE who had closed her womb for help!
Pressure squeezes our decision to turn to God and trust Him in our darkest moments.
Hannah could have chosen to curse God, as Job’s wife told Job to do (Job 2.9). Hannah did not abandon the LORD in her years of trial. Hannah could have perhaps given Elkanah a servant in her place, like Sarai did under similar circumstances (Gen. 16.1-2.) Hannah did not abandon her husband, or her God, by doing so. When social & emotional pressures build we must turn in prayer to the only ONE who can help!
Prayer relieves pressure.
1 Peter 5.6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Kyle Sanders
Kyle has been preaching since 2016 in Chiefland, Florida and Clinton, Mississippi before coming to work with the Jamestown church of Christ in 2021. Before preaching, he spent several years as a high school mathematics teacher in Indiana, Kentucky, and Florida. Kyle is a teacher at heart and brings his love of studying and interacting with students into his preaching and teaching efforts. He and his wife, a native Hoosier, have been blessed with five children, two dogs, a full house and zero leftovers.