While Christmas can be a time of family celebration for the life of Jesus it can also be a time of hardship when we remember loved ones who are no longer with us. Anna’s life story is one overcoming loss.

1 – Anna the widow and prophetess

This word “Anna” means “grace” and is the same as the Old Testament’s “Hannah”. We know Anna was a widow. The Old Testament law taught that widows were to be cared for but the reality at this time was that widows were often poor and left out of society. Anna was old and alone. Yet from this account God gives to us, this old and alone woman was also vibrant, filled with joy, overflowing with God’s Word and in love with the Lord. She is just what any woman who knows the Lord would want to become.

2 – Dealing with loneliness

Since the loss of her husband after only seven years of marriage, Anna had been waiting many years for the arrival of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem. Notice how she dealt with loneliness:-

• She developed a serving heart – She came from the tribe of Asher. She had renounced her tribe to be part of the sacrificial service for God. She would fast and pray. We do not read of her doing anything else. Prayer is an important service to God. She served God selflessly. She was there all the time, day and night. The secret to survival in sorrow is serving. She gave herself totally to her service of God.
• She developed a sensitive heart – She walked in to the Temple at the very moment Simeon had picked up the Messiah in his arms. She had waited 84 years and she had developed a razor sharp spiritual sensitivity to the things of God.
• She developed a singing heart – Simeon had been singing and Anna started singing too. Two of the oldest people in the Temple were singing their hearts out to God!
• She developed a sharing heart – She spoke of Jesus to all of them that looked for redemption. She didn’t go home or wait. She had a list of those who looked for redemption and went and told them all. There are a great of believers who need to hear the good news as it has happened. She knew where they are because she had been praying for them. She became a witness and missionary.

3 – God’s Prescription for Old Age

See Psalm 92. There are many older women who will end up alone over 65 years old. We need them to be Grace-energized women. You can learn from Anna.

• You can be old but not hopeless – Sorrow can either soften our lives, and make us compassionate and kind – or we can allow pain and sorrow to harden us into harsh and bitter people. Which way are you allowing your pains and troubles to shape your life?
• You can know pain but not bitterness – Anna couldn’t get out anymore – she couldn’t travel, shop, visit and get away – she was limited physically but unlimited spiritually. Notice that she never left the Temple.
• You can know limits but not uselessness – Anna was willing to share with others, what God was doing in her life. She overflowed into the life of this younger woman and her family. Mary was touched as was Joseph, by this older woman. Her love for God, her passion to share His faithfulness, all of this must have made a deep impression on not only Joseph and Mary, but also everyone who came across this amazing, grace-energised woman named Anna.
• You can know loneliness but not emptiness – Anna lived a fulfilling life for God and was a source of spiritual encouragement. She was not sitting around bored all day!

Anna modelled how to finish life fruitfully for Jesus because they lived a life that counted. A fruitful life that pleases God is a chosen path. What pathway are you choosing to live?

Categories: Luke