“But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her because the LORD had closed her womb.” (1 Samuel 1:5-6)
Have you ever found yourself desiring something someone else has been blessed with? You may want to rejoice with them, but instead all you have is a deep hurt within your heart. Where hurt is, there is also an opportunity to respond in sin. One such response may be jealousy and it, left unchecked, is a primer to a series of downward spiraling sins.
Peninnah was jealous of Hannah because her husband loved her. Her hurting heart led her to hurt others in return. She knew the very thing that would hurt her rival Hannah most -jeering at her infertility. Jealousy cannot withstand someone else’s happiness. It seemingly says, “If I am unhappy because I cannot have what I want, then I will make sure you are unhappy too.”
Taking our hurt out on others is never the answer, but it happens often. Our true need is to turn to God with our unmet longing. He may not fulfill the original desire, but he may grant us a brand new one as we turn to him. A heart that chases God, will find Him, and also learn contentment in Him.
God, when my heart is hurting let me run to you with my hurt. Keep me from the sin of hurting others.
