1 Samuel 1:22 (NKJV)

“…for she said to her husband, ‘Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.’”

As usual and per family ritual, Elkanah had wanted his family to go to Shiloh to worship God, but Hannah would not go because she knew that if she went, she would have had to drop the lad there and she knew that it was not the right time to do so. So she respectfully refused the counsel of her husband, because she had an understanding of the times and seasons for her son.

Hannah knew that if Samuel was placed before the Tabernacle of God, and he remained there, then his life would not be ordinary. She understood that the Presence of God was the place of impact, transformation, and empowerment. She knew that her son would never be the same again if she left him there, and she was willing to make the sacrifice to so do. And that’s a big lesson for us. If we genuinely place our treasures of value before God and leave them there, these objects of high esteem to us will be transformed into objects of eternal significance. Whoever heard of Penninah’s children? Why? Because Penninah kept them for herself. Hoarding our treasures will limit their usefulness. Handing them over to the Lord will birth a deep-rooted impact that will exceed our wildest imaginations. Can we hand over our carefully protected treasures?

“Lord, my greatest treasures are my family members, and I hand them over to You. I also hand over all other treasures and objects of high esteem in my life. Oh Lord, transform these little pockets of treasure and make them instruments of eternal significance. As You did with Samuel, do so with my treasures. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”