Day 7: Remember Me
Today we visit the story of Hannah. Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. In 1 Samuel, we read of Peninnah’s taunts towards Hannah for not having children while she easily bore children. Hannah was ridiculed and humiliated and pleaded with God, weeping her words, "O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life." (1 Samuel 1:11)
Despite the difficult circumstances she faced, Hannah persistently prayed to God. and verse 10 says, “Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD.”
God wants our emotions; He made us emotional beings. In verse 16, Hannah, in her brokenness, declares to Eli, the priest, "I have been praying here out of great anguish and grief.” Is there something you desperately want from God? It is almost inevitable at some point; we will feel the “distress of the soul” described in the Amplified version of this verse. Others describe it as “the wall” or the “dark night of the soul.” It is so easy for us to feel bitterness at the circumstances of life. Embitterment is different than anger because although it involves the same outrage, it also involves feeling helpless to change things. Hannah clearly felt this.
Do we let bitterness eat away and create decay as we hold onto our pain, or do we bring our bitterness, let the Lord bear it, and ultimately take it? To ask the same God who allowed your pain to then take your bitterness away requires setting aside resentment. It means a difficult, faithful acknowledgement of His place as your Creator and faithful provider.
Every year in my devotionals I include Romans 8:26. This story seems fitting of this verse, “the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” "Hannah prayed wordless prayers before Eli, and that caused him to ask if she was drunk. But this is the Spirit interceding for us."
After God answered Hannah's prayers and granted her the blessing of her son Samuel (plus five more over time) Hannah recognises God's faithfulness. “There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides You. There is no rock like our God." (1 Samuel 2:2) She continued to pray and give thanks, acknowledging from whom her blessings came. As we know, her son, Samuel, became the greatest prophet in Israel's history, maintaining direct communication with God throughout his life.
Lord, thank you for your answers to prayer, which You give when we pour our souls to You. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that You pray on our behalf when we pour out our anguish. You are the God who hears us. Lord, hear our deep prayers today for our lives and those around us. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20) Amen.
Reflect and Respond
- Are you discouraged or despairing? Ask the Holy Spirit to join in your prayer for your situation.
-Write a prayer of thanks for your situation, thanking God for His faithfulness and sovereignty. Write out some promises that God has given you for your situation. “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Prayer Focus Pray for our communications, tech, admin and custodial teams here at the church: Communications Director: Ian Richardson Communications Team: Vanessa Dobson, Marissa Price, Jen Peters, Luke Madden Tech Director: Adam Price Tech Team: Dru Carlson, Karl Dobson, Sam Lamb and all of the volunteers Admin and Ministry Coordinators: Cheryl Carlson, Vicki Burger, Des Rypstra, Louisa Wiebe, Michelle Collins, Morley Cruikshank Custodians and Janitors: Percy Lujan, Kurtis Knuth, Brady Welsh Pray for your three prayer points.
