From Dashed Hopes to “Yes, Lord!”

Imagine if your whole life were chronicled in just a few sentences? What words would carefully narrate your life story? Which defining events would be highlighted in your personal history? 

In Luke 2:36–38, we find a devoted servant whose entire life is summarized in only eighty-one words and four sentences. Her (short) story speaks volumes to us today. Look closely at Anna: 

There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Simply put, Scripture testifies that Anna ran her race well. She crossed the finish line as a faithful and useful servant of God despite living a life of deep personal heartache.

Anna’s “Yes” to Dashed Hopes

In her younger years, we can imagine Anna joyfully expecting her life to follow the typical storyline for women in the ancient world: marriage at age twelve or thirteen, followed by children. Surely she dreamed of seeing the Asher family tree blossom through the addition of a husband and many sons and daughters. 

Anna married, but seven years later, her fairytale abruptly ended. We’re not given the details of her husband’s death, but Anna was marked as a widow for the rest of her life. She was alone, no longer a Mrs., and likely pitied by the rest of society. 

When tragedy struck, Anna was faced with decisions. Would she— 

• Allow God to use her brokenness to minister to others or disqualify herself to live in a prison of self-pity?
• Trust and surrender to God’s plan or become blistered by bitterness? 
• Teach others that God is good despite life’s unexpected plotline or nurse resentment toward Him?

Here is a woman who drew near to God and said “yes” to an unscripted future. 

Anna’s Loss Birthed New Purpose

As anyone who has lost a spouse can attest, Anna must have needed God’s daily, tailor-made grace to rise from the pit of grief and step into a life of new purpose. Her newfound ministry was birthed out of tragic loss. This widow, now belonging fully to her Maker (Isa. 54:5), devoted herself to the Lord’s work. Her priorities became serving in the temple, fasting, and praying day in and day out. Anna embodies the description of a true widow in 1 Timothy 5:5, “The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.”

My friend Marcia serves Jesus like Anna did. She is single, but not by choice. Her unbelieving husband divorced her years ago. Once in vocational ministry, but now in her latter years, Marcia serves God full-time without an official title or a paycheck. She spends her days at her home church encouraging the saints, leading prayer, meeting one-on-one with burdened souls, or pitching in wherever help is needed. Marcia generously gives her spiritual gifts to the body of Christ without a thought of retirement.

Like Marcia and Anna, what will keep us running toward the finish line? I cannot speak for Anna, but I imagine she was fueled by deep gratitude for God’s grace and provision throughout her lifetime. Add to that her love for God’s Word and her family of faith, and Anna remained hopeful in the coming Redeemer. She possessed a true hope that didn’t rest on wishes but on unwavering faith in the promises of God. 

While some servants might choose to stepback and take the easier path later in life, this wasn’t true of Anna, nor should it be of us. Instead of checking out and turning over her temple key to the younger generation, Anna was like the righteous people described in Psalm 92:14, who “still bear fruit in old age; [and] are ever full of sap and green” (ESV). 

Anna’s Hope in the Redeemer Fulfilled

I imagine that Anna, like many single women, never ceasedto long for a husband or child. She may have prayed for years with wordless groans and tears, like her Old Testament sister Hannah (1 Sam. 1:13). When you and I have unfulfilled longings, we can be grateful that unmet desires can keep us yearning for more of Jesus and our true home in heaven. We can trust that God will faithfully meet every genuine need according to His perfect wisdom and timing, just like He did for this prophetess.

From the beginning of time, the Lord was writing a beautiful story for Anna, even though her dream of having a family would not be written into it. Perhaps Anna experienced moments when she felt as though God had overlooked her—until that fateful day. Her heavenly Father had something surprising in mind: rather than hold and raise her own child, Anna would behold the Christ child.

Scripture tells that Simeon held baby Jesus while he prophesied: 

“Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34–35)

Can’t you picture Anna standing nearby, perhaps offering encouragement to Mary as she tried to comprehend Simeon’s mystifying words? Perhaps Anna’s mothering instincts took over, and she reached out her hands for permission to take Jesus into her arms.

Put yourself into Anna’s place. Ponder the heart-arresting moment. Nothing the world had to offer Anna could measure up to the privilege of beholding the Baby who is the Blessed Redeemer, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Imagine the joy, love, and wonder that must have filled her as she gazed upon the face of the promised Messiah. What an amazing climax to Anna’s story!

Anna’s Never-Giving-Up Ministry 

God is writing an equally stunning story of your life. Whether you call it ministry or not, serving the Lord is just that. He’s given you a purpose and a divine calling to fulfill. When we offer our “yes” for His use, there’s no limit to what He can do.

He can use your influence and prayers to help shape the stories of the people you love. He can use you to pass the baton of truth to the next generation. He can use you to bring wanderers back to Jesus. He can give you spiritual sons and daughters to nurture. He can build you into a pillar of faith for your church. He really can use you to spark revival right where you live. 

Friend, it’s never easy. You’ll get frustrated and depleted. You’ll consider giving up. And when you do, consider the wonder of it all—the privilege of being a handmaiden to the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Never-giving-up Anna refused to quit despite the daily cost of dying to self. She fulfilled her ministry assignment while ardently waiting for the Messiah’s coming. Once she gazed upon His beauty, she simply couldn’t stop speaking about the priceless worth of salvation through His name. With hearts captivated by Jesus, we too can keep saying “yes”—one day at a time—until He returns.

Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:12–13)