Look on our Affliction

Devotional

Hannah is just one of the women in the Bible who prayed in faith and anguish and was granted peace from God. Her pain over her barrenness was immense, such that even her own husband could not comfort her. She didn't try to shield these emotions but was honest with God. Sometimes, we can be led to believe that ‘ticking the boxes’ can yield a result from God, but that’s not how Hannah conducted her relationship with God. We bring our petitions to God and leave them at His feet, trusting in His will, saturated with love and His timing, designed for our peace.

Hannah did not only experience relief later when she had her child. Her relief was immediate when she received a promise from the priest, Eli. Her face ‘was no longer sad’ when she believed in faith the words of Eli, that ‘the God of Israel would grant [her] petition.’ Be encouraged to pour out your heart honestly before God and let Him fill you with faith in His will, His love, and His timing.

Prayer

Father God, just like Hannah, we ask that You look on our affliction and remember us, not forget us. We long to be relieved of the abundance of our complaints and grief. Lord, it is difficult to see others close to us rejoicing with children while we wait for our own. Forgive us where our grief might have driven us into jealousy. We believe that you, the God of Israel, will grant our petition, which we have asked of you – our faces, like Hannah’s, will no longer be sad as we wait in faith. Amen.