Do you have trouble sharing your heart and feelings completely with God? You can trust Him completely. You don’t have to leave anything out. He knows everything anyway, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be completely honest with Him. Coming to Him wholly is for your benefit, even though He loves it when you run to Him.
Don’t Hold Anything Back from God
In 1 Samuel, there is a story of Hannah. Hannah was sad for many years. She hadn’t been able to have a baby. She was in deep anguish, so one day she went to the temple to pray. She cried bitterly as she poured out her heart to the Lord. Hannah asked God for a baby and promised to let it be used for His glory, not her own. She would be happy to be a part of God’s plan.
God Always Offers Grace
At the end of her prayer, the priest told her she should go in peace. She knew that the Lord had heard her prayer, and she was no longer sad. She didn’t wait to feel better until she held God’s gift in her hands. She believed and her sadness dissipated. And, in due time, Hannah gave birth to a son who became the first prophet of Israel. Hannah lived out the meaning of her name. The name Hannah means favor or grace. She wasn’t afraid to go to God to ask for favor and grace for her life. And she received it. Then, Hannah also remembered her promise and offered her son back to God for His service in the temple.
Be Thankful and Honor Promises
When you receive something that you prayed for, don’t forget any promises you made. God didn’t do the thing because of your promise, but He is pleased when you honor your word to Him. Thank and worship God for His goodness. Hannah’s gratitude showed when she named her son, Samuel, which means “God hears.”
There is No One Like God
Then in 1 Samuel 2, Hannah prays a prayer of gratitude for her God. She rejoices in the Lord. She delights in His deliverance. She doesn’t take His goodness for granted. She knows wholeheartedly that there is no one like her God. She knows that she can take her brokenness and weakness to God, who will give her strength in return. The Lord is the author of life and death. He sends poverty and wealth. He humbles and exalts. Hannah knew that God could raise the poor from the dust. He can lift the needy from the ashes. A person’s own strength doesn’t cause them to prevail. It is God who brings victory. There is no one like Him!
Hannah’s silent strength persevered through people’s taunts, as well as her own taunting feelings. She took all those horrible feelings to God in prayer. She stands as a precious symbol of the power of honest, persistent prayer.
Be honest, real, and authentic, like Hannah.
