Hannah’s Joy isn’t the kind of joy that depends on a good week, a “finally!” moment, or life going your way. It’s the kind of joy that’s born in the presence of God — right in the middle of pain, disappointment, and waiting.
This past Sunday, Ps Mandy brought the Word while Ps Larry was preaching in Richards Bay. And as we step into Christmas week, the message landed with divine timing: joy isn’t fragile. When your joy is rooted in God, it can outlast anything the world throws at you.
Joy, Joy, Joy: The Promise Jesus Gave Us
Our series scripture is a powerful promise from Jesus:
John 15:11 (NKJV) “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Notice what Jesus says: My joy — not a temporary happiness, not a mood, not a moment. His joy can remain, and it can be full. That means joy is not something we chase; it’s something we receive and steward.
Jehovah El Simchah Giyli: “God My Exceeding Joy”
Ps Mandy reminded us that God reveals Himself as El Simchah Giyli, meaning “God My Exceeding Joy.”
This speaks of a joy that is deeper than circumstances — joy that is supernatural, steady, and stronger than trials. The world’s version of “happiness” can be overshadowed by stress, loss, fear, or disappointment. But the joy that comes from God’s presence is not fragile; it’s spiritual strength.
And that’s exactly why Scripture can say:
Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV) “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Not “the joy of the Lord is your nice bonus.” Not “your backup plan.” Your strength.
Hannah’s Joy: The Problem That Pushed Her to Purpose
To anchor the message, Ps Mandy took us into the story of Hannah — one of the most honest pictures of sorrow in the Bible.
Hannah carried deep grief because she couldn’t have children, and year after year she faced the pain of comparison and provocation, especially from Peninnah. It wasn’t just private sadness — it was public pressure, repeated disappointment, and a wound that wouldn’t stop aching.
Then comes the moment where even Elkanah, her husband, reaches his limit and challenges her:
1 Samuel 1:8 (NKJV) “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved?”
Sometimes God will use a situation, a person, or a moment of tension to expose what’s really happening in our hearts, not to shame us, but to move us. Hannah’s pain didn’t disappear, but something shifted: she stopped suffering silently and started pursuing God boldly.
The Turning Point: Crying Out Before God
Here’s where Hannah’s Joy becomes more than a story… it becomes an invitation. Hannah went to the house of the Lord and prayed from the depths of her heart. She didn’t perform or rehearse. She didn’t pretend. Hannah simply poured out her soul.
1 Samuel 1:15 (NKJV) “…I am a woman of sorrowful spirit… but have poured out my soul before the Lord.”
That line is for anyone who has been “fine” on the outside but breaking on the inside.
And Hannah didn’t only pray — she made a vow, a specific request, and a faith decision. She stepped up and took action instead of expecting God to do everything while she stayed stuck. Then Scripture says something quietly miraculous: after prayer, she ate again, and her face was no longer sad.
Joy began before the breakthrough arrived — because peace came when she placed the weight of it all into God’s hands.
What Hannah’s Joy Teaches Us This Week
1) When you’re challenged, go to God
Don’t run in circles in your own mind. Don’t just vent horizontally. Hannah took her grief vertically — to the only One who can truly carry it.
2) Don’t stay passive — move with faith
God invites partnership. Hannah prayed, vowed, believed, and followed through. Faith is not denial; it’s direction.
3) Cry before God with everything in you
Some breakthroughs are born in honest tears. Scripture even reminds us how deeply inner sorrow can affect the whole person:
Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV) “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”
God doesn’t despise your tears — He redeems them. Only He can turn sorrow into joy and grief into strength.
A Gentle Invitation: If You Need Jesus Today
If you’re reading this and you feel far from God — or you’ve never truly surrendered your life to Jesus — this is your moment. The same God who met Hannah in her sorrow is reaching for you now with mercy, forgiveness, and new life.
Romans 10:10 & 17 (NKJV) “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation… So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
If you’d like someone to pray with you or walk this journey with you, please reach out.
Christmas Week Notices
- Christmas Day service: One service only at 08:00.
- Sunday, 28 December 2025: We’re honoured to welcome Ps Charné Pretorius, a senior pastor of 3C, to teach the Word. Learn more about 3C.
- Prepare your heart for Communion.
A Christmas Message & Prayer from Ps Larry and Ps Mandy
Church family, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, remember this: the Saviour didn’t come to watch you struggle—He came to step into your darkness and lead you into light. May the joy of Christ not only visit your heart this Christmas, but remain in you and become full.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for coming near. For every person carrying sorrow, disappointment, fear, or heaviness—let Your presence overshadow them with peace. Restore hope where it has been lost. Heal hearts, strengthen faith, and fill every home with Your love. We declare that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
With love,
Ps Larry & Ps Mandy
