POUR OUT YOUR HEART

“Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8).

Hannah’s home was broken. For years she’d been happy in the love of her husband. Peace filled their house. And yet, there was a shadow that never lifted. For Hannah couldn’t have children.  She was barren. We might say ‘infertile’ today. And in a society where a woman’s value was linked directly to motherhood, did Hannah feel like less of a woman? Did she think something was wrong with her? Was God punishing her for something she’d done wrong? We don’t really know what went through her head, but she was apparently in deep anguish.

And to make matters worse, her devoted husband takes matters into his own hand. In spite of  the history of Abraham and Jacob, whose homes were marked with bitterness and strife, he takes a second wife, so he could have a son. This second marriage was blessed by many children,  both sons and daughters. And year after year, Hannah had to stand by and watch.  She had endure the harassment from her proud rival, who rubbed her nose into her own success and ultimately Hannah’s failure as a woman.

But even though Hannah’s hopes seemed crushed and her life a weary burden, she met her trial with uncomplaining meekness. She held it all inside because not even Elkanah—though he loved her still—could understand her pain. “Why do you weep?” he cried. “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8)

Hannah knew there was only one person she could share her burden with. So when the family went to Shiloh to celebrate the annual feast, Hannah slipped away to the tabernacle. From the depths of her heart, she pled with God to take away her reproach. If only she could have a son to raise for Him!

Hannah poured out her heart to God, even vowing that if He would give her a baby, she would dedicate this child to Him. She prayed aggressively and with such intensity that she could not even speak, though the tears ran down her cheeks. For “she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord, and wept in anguish” (1 Samuel 1:10). “She communed with God in silence, uttering no sound” (Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 570). The grief that had been so bottled up, spilled out like water. And God heard his daughter’s cry.

Hannah’s prayer was a fervent prayer—a prayer like Jacob’s as he wrestled with Christ on the banks of the Jabok River. Like Jacob, she would not go until her prayer was heard. She would not let go of God’s love!

 Hannah was truly a woman of prayer and deep faith. She didn’t hold onto her pain. She didn’t rely on man to solve her problem. She laid it all out before Jesus because she knew He loved her. He understood what she was going through. And He held the answer.

When our hearts are full of pain of any kind, we can go to Jesus and pour it all out. No tear will fall to the ground unnoticed. No struggle will be ignored. God understands what we’re going through and He won’t be deaf to our cries. Even if we can’t utter a sound like Hannah. He will still hear us and answer our prayers.

I think if we could see Jesus face to face, we’d see Him throwing out a life-line to us. Prayer is our life line to heaven. And if we grab ahold of that life line, we’re grabbing ahold of Jesus. He won’t let go of His end. He will never let you go!

And if we keep holding onto our end, He’s gonna pull us out of whatever pain we’re in right now. Just as He did for Hannah.

Hold onto the love He has for you. “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my defense I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory, the rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God.”