The story of Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, told in 1 Samuel 1, is fantastic.
Hannah was barren, and it broke her heart. Other things complicated this, robbing her of joy.
But there is one verse that changed everything: “She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly” (1 Samuel 1:10 NASB).
Be Honest
Hannah’s grief was real and palpable. God doesn’t want us to “fake it,” vainly acting like we’re not troubled.
He knows what’s going on in us—our hurts, fears, disappointments, questions.
He wants us to be honest with Him.
Hannah was hurting, but the difference-maker was that she took her hurt to the right Source.
Be Praying
Hannah looked up.
Her response was not merely inward, in grief or self-pity, or horizontal, looking to others or trying to figure this problem out herself.
Hannah’s response was vertical, and her prayer brought God into the equation.
God heard her prayer and, in this situation, provided her with a son.
And not just any son. His name became Samuel, and he proved to be one of the most powerful, godly leaders in Israel’s history.
If you are in distress, have you done the single greatest thing that makes all the difference? Have you fervently, continually prayed to the Lord?