Our Scripture reading today is 1 Samuel 1:6-8.
Verse 7, "And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat."
Hannah finds herself being ridiculed and provoked due to the fact that she was favoured by Elkanah and was unable to have a child. The attack of Peninnah is relentless and it seems to be even greater when they would go to the temple. Both of these women were married to the same man, Elkanah. The Bible never shows polygamy to be something positive. This was definitely the case in this passage of Scripture. Hannah is given more than Peninnah. This causes jealousy and envy.
We do see a character trait in Hannah that is worth our repeating. Even while under constant attack from Peninnah and not able to bear a child, Hannah continues to seek the LORD for a son. One would think God would have given children to Hannah (good character) and not to Peninnah (bad character). However, God's ways and our ways do not always match. I imagine every time they are going to the house of the LORD, Hannah is praying and hoping this would be the year God would answer her prayer. This would be the year she would finally be with child. Hannah is an example of someone with stedfast faith. She continued to seek the LORD.
God is working a specific plan in each of our lives. We may not see it or understand it at this time. This is where faith comes into play. Do we believe that God is always good? Do we believe His will is best? Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"