I have loved reading the story of Anna. She was the one we can read about in the book of Luke who was able to see Jesus when Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple. Other than the fact that I’m crazy about her name (and the life she lived), here’s what we know of her. She was “advanced in years” and she was a widow. That actually sounds completely depressing. Seems like time and circumstances were working against her, right? And yet even in her age she never gave up hope. And even though her life was one touched by sorrow, she didn’t become bitter.
What was her secret, we might ask, in finding the strength to move beyond these challenges in life, to not let disappointment and discouragement cloud her days? Because I don’t know about you but I seem to face challenges and difficulties some days that seemingly stop me in my tracks. And although, I’m definitely “advancing in years” (aren’t we all?), Anna’s struggles are much deeper than the ones I usually run up against.
So what can we learn from Anna’s blessed life? Her secret is simple – she spent time with the Lord daily. Yep, that’s it. She spent time in the temple. She worshipped. She prayed. She basked in His presence. She sought after His wisdom and God called her to share that wisdom. I’m sure He even gave her a real passion for sharing with those He placed in her path. She became obedient to His calling. And He made her stronger. He allowed her to see way past temporary discomfort in this life and instead to keep her eyes ever focused upward. And in her normal every day life of worshipping, she was able to see with her own eyes the very hope of Jesus.
Can you imagine how she must have felt that day in the temple seeing in human form the hope of all mankind? Each and every day Anna sought Christ with her whole heart. And when we seek Him in that humble and committed way, we will find Him.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” ~ Jeremiah 29:13
My prayer is that we draw from the simple obedience of Anna’s life. The one simple thing that changed her life of allowing our Savior to transform her heart. May we have a heart desire to spend time with Him each day. May we lay down our disappointments at His feet. May we walk in obedience to His calling. May we have a passion for sharing with others what His love has meant in our lives. And most of all, may we always seek Him with all of our hearts.
