Some women in Scripture are only mentioned in passing, yet through a few phrases we get a brief, yet significant glimpse into the life of a woman of God. Anna was such a woman. Although we are given only a few facts about her life, we see in this woman the tremendous blessings that come to a woman who trusts God.

Think of Joseph and Mary, entering the Temple with their newborn baby son, probably expecting to receive as much attention as any poor Jewish family. Think of their amazement and wonder when a man named Simeon prophesied over their tiny baby. And then an old, grandmotherly lady approaches who seems to know who they are. Now there is nothing unusual about an elderly lady crooning over a baby, but this was no ordinary woman. She had known personal pain, yet had chosen to turn her suffering into an opportunity for service. When she found herself a widow at a young age, she chose to spend the rest of her life in the presence of the Lord in the temple. In spite of her own loss, she had lived with hope – the hope of the coming Messiah. She was now near the end of her life. Would the Lord reward her fastings and prayers with a glimpse of His Anointed – in the flesh?

I find it an amazing testimony of Anna’s faith, knowledge, and understanding that she immediately recognized the infant Yeshua {Jesus} as the Messiah. How did she know? I can only think that her years of service to the Lord gave her such a deep understanding of God that she was able to recognize the true Messiah when she saw Him. She passionately desired and looked forward to the coming of the Redeemer. I can only imagine Anna’s joyful, wrinkled face adoring the tiny little one who was the Hope of Israel – her Redeemer.

Anna gave thanks to the Lord in the temple, and then joyfully proclaimed His coming to all those who also hoped for the Messiah. The curtain closes on her life at that point almost as quickly as it opened. However, the brief glimpse Scripture gives us into the life of this woman teaches us about the blessings that God lavishes on women who hope in Him. From Anna’s life, we learn that suffering can be turned into an opportunity for joyful service, and that the Lord never, ever fails those who hope in Him.

There was also a prophet named *Hannah Bat-P’nu’el, of the tribe of Asher. She was a very old woman — she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage and had remained a widow ever since; now she was eighty-four. She never left the Temple grounds but worshipped there night and day, fasting and praying. She came by at that moment and began thanking God and speaking about the child to everyone who was waiting for Yerushalayim to be liberated.

Luke 2:36-38

*Hannah is the prophet’s name, Anna is Latin.

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