1 Samuel 2:2

There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

Devotional Thoughts

By David Wilkerson

Hannah is an example of a woman who came daily into the Lord's presence. She came to the temple sad of heart - weeping, with a sorrowful spirit. " She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly" (1 Samuel 1:10).

Hannah shared her husband with another wife, Peninnah, who had borne several children. Hannah had remained barren, and Peninnah harassed her about it day and night. Scripture says this woman "provoked (Hannah) grievously" (verse 6), making her life miserable.

Now, Hannah was dearly loved by her husband. But even he could not comfort her nor abate her sorrow. He said to her, "Am I not more to you than ten sons? " (verse 8). Yet Hannah must have thought, "You don't understand. I have a need you can't meet!"

So Hannah stood before the altar weeping, sorrowful, with a deep groaning in her spirit. She testified to Eli, the priest: “I am a woman troubled in spirit.. I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.... I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation" (verses 15-16).

Hannah was not afraid to come into the Lord's presence with her sadness. In fact, in her sorrow she preferred His company. Yet many believers today simply will not come into God's presence because they are sad, downcast, weeping, broken, going through trials. They say, in essence, "I don't want to offend God by coming to Him this way. I'll wait till I'm happy and joyful before I come into His presence."

We're accustomed to going before the Lord corporately with hand-clapping, praises, joyful worship. But this account of Hannah makes it clear we're to come to Him even in our saddest moments. And, as Hannah was in intimate prayer with the Lord, He spoke peace to her heart: “Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad" (verse 18).

This passage tells me: "Don't hide from the Lord. Don't run anywhere else. Run straight into His presence, and weep it all out before Him! Tell Him everything you're going through. Let Him have all your sadness."