Do you have someone in your life who gives you a hard time- someone who treats you totally unfairly or maybe even hates you?
You’re not alone. There are many folks in the Bible who had haters: Joseph, Noah, Moses, Paul, and definitely Jesus. Here, I want to talk about Hannah. In 1 Samuel 1, we learn about Hannah’s story and how Peninnah (the other wife) made her life miserable. Peninnah was Hannah’s hater. She made fun of Hannah’s deepest insecurity of being infertile.
I’m not saying Peninnah was nice, she wasn’t! What I am proposing is that God can use our haters for good in our lives. If it weren’t for Peninnah’s mockery and prodding, Hannah may never have had the courage to pray from the place of her deepest desire, to have a child. After all, Hannah had everything she needed and a whole lot of what she wanted. She could have accepted a “good enough” life, but then there would be no prophet Samuel.
I have had haters in my own life, and I am beginning to see them differently. Instead of retaliating, becoming angry, or co-signing lies over my life, I’m beginning to reframe haters and asking God, “What can I learn from their words or actions? How are you using them to move me in the direction of your will for my life?”
For example, recently I was able to receive a blessing professionally that never would have happened without the opposition of someone who wasn’t being nice. Friend, this is a hard one because it’s very unnatural. I challenge you to ask God to reinterpret the haters in your life. His plans for you are good, even when they don’t feel good all the time.
Joy Howard
~Christ Fellowship