From Personal Grief to Divine Joy

Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief. 1 Samuel 1:16 (NIV)

Hanna is in pain and anguish because she is barren. To make things worse, Peninnah, Elkanah's other wife has sons and daughters and taunts Hanna daily. Hanna has to deal with the taunting and internal pain for years which causes her extreme misery and loss of appetite. During one of her visits to the temple, she finally decides to give it all to the Lord. She prays from deep within her heart, exposing her pain and anguish to the Lord. She does not do it outwardly, so that all around her could see, but within herself in a one-to-one conversation with God. Of course, Eli the priest sees her lips moving without words and accuses her of being drunk. She quickly corrects him and lets him know that she is praying out of great anguish and grief. Eli blesses her and the next morning Hanna gets up early and worships the Lord.

Hanna is an example of how we should pray to the Lord when we are going through trials and personal anguish. Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." She begins with praise and joy, acknowledging God's holiness and sovereignty. She declares her strength and worth and expresses her gratitude for God's hearing her cries and answering her prayer for a child. Her prayer is as specific as a surgeon's scalpel and as bold as a lion's roar. This is a prayer that is personal, between her and God only, giving all that is troubling her to Him. She is transformed by this prayer from a state of personal grief to that of divine joy.

Choose not to live in pain. Go to the Lord and pray from your heart. Have an earnest conversation with God and give all your hurts, habits, and hangups to Him because they are not yours to keep. Jesus took it all for us when He died on the cross. God does not want us to live in pain and anguish, but in joy and happiness, praising Him. Have a personal conversation with God today and let Him change your personal grief to divine joy.