What caught my attention - other than the article about her becoming the newest addition to the Stanford class of 2001 - were the 2 articles speculating on why she had chosen to come to Stanford.

Quote, “She had about half the Ivy League to pick from, but she wants to come out here. Gee, you think it has anything to do with putting 3,000 miles between herself and her parents? At least this way Hillary won’t be able to pop in with a video camera to take movies of Chelsea in her first dorm room, saying things in front of her friends, ‘You know we trust your judgment, but a lot of times they put grain alcohol in the punch and, honey, even your father can’t smell that stuff.’ Every freshman is doomed to hear this lecture, but it really burns when its coming from the first lady.”

Imagine this, “Chelsea, it takes a village to find a boyfriend.”

I was actually comforted to know that the first family struggles with the same problem all parents struggle with - letting go of our kids. The struggle starts at birth - not just when kids leave for a college dorm room - and it continues for a lifetime.

In one capacity or another - for the last 18 years - I’ve been involved with youth ministry - and connected with kids and their parents. These experiences have led me to see that if parents cannot let go of their children - one of two things generally will happen:

1) Their children will leave - and that leaving will be disastrous. Usually this is some type of rebellion. But, whatever it is - the life choices that are made - the words that are said - the hurt that is experienced - usually take years to recover from.

2) Their children never leave - and both parents and child enter into an unhealthy relationship. One example of this is a child who never grows up. Even worse is when this adult child marries into what becomes a disastrous marital relationship.

Now - for just a minute - I want to say a word to those of you who are single. I realize that we’re talking about kids and parenting and it would be very easy to say, “None of this applies to me.” Well, the bottom line of what we’re talking about is actually how to trust God - and that does apply.

Let me talk to you as a parent of two small boys. Our children are precious to us and it’s very hard to let go of something of so great a value - to trust God with our children. Each of us - single or married needs - to be able to trust God with those things we hold to be of greatest value. Most importantly, to trust Him with our life.

So here’s the principle - Letting go of our children - or anything - or any situation - means trusting God with their lives.

This morning I want to share one example with you from the life of Hannah. Hannah is an example to us of a mother who was able to let go. What she did - we need to do. So, we want to see how she did it.

There are are 3 circumstances of Hannah’s life that we want to quickly notice together. And, you’ll see these recorded in 1 Samuel chapter 1.

1. Hannah Was One Of Two Wives Of Elkanah

She was in a polygamist relationship. Though polygamy was allowed in the Old Testament, it was far from God’s ideal - some time look at Genesis 2:24 and God’s command about cleaving to one wife. In Hannah’s life - as is true in any life where the directives of God are ignored - there was a lot of misery and unhappiness.

Hannah was burdened with a very difficult relationship with the “other” wife - Peninnah. Peninnah was jealous because Elkanah loved Hannah more - she found every opportunity to taunt Hannah - to ridicule her - to provoke her - to humiliate her.

The second circumstance of Hannah’s life that we need to be aware of is that....

2. Hannah Was Barren

Hannah, in this far from perfect home situation, experienced added sorrow and humiliation. In the years that she had been married to Elkanah she had yet to bear one child - let alone a male one. Being barren was seen as a curse.

Imagine how great Hannah’s suffering must have been - when everyone around her despised her for not producing children. The Bible says that - because of the weight of her circumstances - Hannah was unable to eat and she wept bitterly from the depths of her heart.

Today some people might really get angry at this kind of attitude - it seems to relegate women to a subservient role. Like the only reason women exist is to bear male heirs for their husbands. Our purpose this morning is not to condone or condemn culture - but to understand what Hannah struggled with - how isolated - how wounded - how inferior she must have felt.

All women - who desire to have children - suffer greatly when they cannot. Our Armenian culture puts this kind of pressure on women. To be a good Armenian "aghcheeg": grow up - get married - have kids - preferably male ones. Well, what happens when that doesn’t happen? Maybe some of you have felt like Hannah. For many women Mother’s Day is emotional torture.

The third circumstance of Hannah’s life that we need to notice is that:

3. Hannah Was A Godly Woman

When Hannah cried out - she cried out to God.

The song of prayer and praise that we are going read together from 1 Samuel 2 - is the capstone - the culmination of a process of growth in Hannah’s life - which declares just how much she had grown into a mature and Godly women. Through the ordeals of her life - she had learned to lean on the Lord and to trust His sovereign purposes.

She knew that her barrenness was from God - that He was sovereign and in control of all things. And, if He was in control of all things, then certainly also He was in control of her barrenness. Hannah’s suffering had drawn her heart to God.

In 1 Samuel 1:10, we read that, “She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. - She turned to God in her circumstances. Verse 11: And she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thy maidservant and remember me, and not forget Thy maidservant, but wilt give Thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.” - He will be set apart - given to you.

As we know this account, we know that Hannah conceived - and gave birth to a son - whom she named Samuel. Samuel who became the great prophet of God. When Samuel was weaned - probably at 3 years of age - Hannah took Samuel to Eli - the High Priest in the house of Lord - and gave Samuel to Him. Here are her words - 1 Samuel 1:27-26, “For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So, I have also dedicated him to the Lord.” - And, she left Samuel there in God’s hands - and she went home.

As I read this account, I’m amazed. How did she do that? Think about this. A barren woman - ridiculed - and despised. How much she must have loved Samuel - and for 3 years became so attached to this - who was her only son - and only child. And yet, she kept her vow to God - she gave Samuel to God.

Some people might say, “Well God, when I made my vow I didn’t really understand just what the cost would be - how much this child would mean to me - what it would feel like to give up my son. Surely you can’t expect me to give Him up? Maybe I’ll just raise Him for you...”

This was no easy thing Hannah did. But, she was a woman who had learned to trust God. Its not easy for us to place our children in God’s hands. But, that is precisely what we must do if we are to let go of them.

Two things - to help us trust God with our children:

1. Realize That Our Child Is God’s Already

Sometimes we think that our children are ours to possess. Hannah never considered that Samuel was her possession. She saw Him as a blessing from God. And, Hannah lived with accountability to God for what she did with Samuel.

Trusting God doesn’t mean that we give up our responsibility to raise, discipline, guide, and nurture our children - it means that we are aware that we are accountable to God for what we are doing - and we must seek His leadership and wisdom in the process of parenting.

If we realize that we do not own our children - but that God has ownership over their lives - just as He has ownership over our lives - then it is easier to give them back to Him.

2. Realize God’s Sovereignty Over Our Children

Hannah gave Samuel to God. God had a plan and a purpose for Samuel’s life. If Hannah had not given Samuel to God - that purpose would never have been realized. And, God’s plan for our children goes beyond anything we could imagine or desire for them.

We don’t know what God’s plan will be for our children. We dream and wonder - but ultimately they must follow God’s plan for their life. How can they follow God’s plan if we don’t release them to follow Him?

Let me share one last thought from the heart of a father. I realize this is Mother’s Day... But, let me speak for mothers and fathers.

Karen and I pray over our boys. They are the most precious part of our lives. We desire God’s best for them. We pray for who they’ll marry - where they’ll go to school - what their vocation will be - who their friends will be - we pray for their salvation - we pray that they will follow after God’s will for their lives.

The hardest prayer for me is the one said before we go to sleep at night. “God, watch over our boys.” When I pray this prayer I am more intensely aware that I am placing them in God’s hands - and giving Him the freedom to do what He wills with them. What if God’s plan for them means that one of them may not wake up in the morning?

The only way that I can pray this prayer - and mean it - is to realize that these boys are God’s and He has sovereignty over their lives - that He loves them more than I ever could. That He knows what is best for them - more than I ever could. To know that He can provide for them - better than I ever could.

Please turn with me to 1 Samuel 2:1-10 - and we are going to read Hannah’s Song of Prayer - which she sang just after she took Samuel to Eli - in the House of the Lord.

I want to encourage you - if you are ever looking for a reason to trust God - with your children - anything - or a situation - read these verse and think about who God is - and His sovereignty over all things - including our children.

“Hannah also prayed and said, ‘My heart exalts in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in Thy salvation. There is none holy like the Lord, there is none beside Thee; There is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has born seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low, He also exalts. He also raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of His faithful ones; but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them He will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; He will give strength to His king, and exalt the power of His anointed.”