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God Has Heard: Hannah’s Story of Faith in the Depths

From our Miracle Babies series exploring God’s promises wrapped in blankets

The Five Finger Game

Let’s start with a game. Put a finger down if:

  • You’ve ever felt ignored by everyone, including God
  • You’ve been hurt by dysfunctional family relationships
  • You’ve desperately wanted something that never worked out
  • You’ve tried making a deal with God
  • You’ve had to give up something precious to you

If you have no fingers left, you’re in good company. That’s exactly what Hannah experienced.

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A New Light: The Miraculous Birth of Samson

Part of the “Miracle Babies” series

We’re continuing our journey through miraculous births in the Bible, and today we’re looking at a baby born to a woman who wasn’t supposed to have children. Unlike Sarah from last week, this woman isn’t even named in Scripture—but I think there’s a powerful reason for that beyond simple oversight.

The Cycle of Darkness

The story of Samson’s birth takes place during one of Israel’s darkest periods. The book of Judges records a repeating cycle: the people rebel against God, God allows them to be conquered, they cry out for help, and God raises up a deliverer called a judge. For hundreds of years, this pattern continues.

But when we get to Samson’s story, something’s different. The text tells us that “the Israelites again did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines for 40 years.” Notice what’s missing? There’s no mention of the people crying out to God. It’s as if they’d given up.

But God hadn’t given up on them.

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Laughter Is Born: The Ridiculous Promise of God

When God’s Plans Sound Absolutely Absurd

What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard of an elderly person accomplishing? Running a marathon at 100? Climbing Mount Everest at 80? Going skydiving at 103?

Now imagine this: having your first baby at 90.

That’s the story of Abraham and Sarah – and it’s so absurd that their son’s name literally means “laughter.” Because when God told them the news, they laughed. Not the joyful kind of laughter, but the incredulous kind. The “you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me” kind.

Continue reading → Laughter Is Born: The Ridiculous Promise of God