Pouring out my soul before the Lord

1 Samuel 1:11­15 (NRSV, abridged) (NRSV)

[Hannah] made this vow: `O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death...' Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, 'How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.' But Hannah answered, 'No, my lord... I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.'


From the outside, we can only faintly imagine the depth of Hannah's misery. Being unable to do the one thing that she, and everyone around her, felt she was made for--having children--must have pushed her to the edge of despair. It might seem obvious to us, with hindsight, that such unhappiness would propel her to the Lord, to seek his help, but it isn't always so clear for those who are troubled. Many people are so smothered by misery that they don't even realize that they can turn to God. A counsellor writes of the many Christians who seek her help, who feel they can pray only when their problems have got better (Judy Hirst, Struggling to be Holy, DLT, 2006). This seems bizarre--like taking medicine after you've already recovered--but it shows how many of us are pushed by troubles into such damaging fears that we don't even know where to go for help.

Probably like many others today, Hannah had to be tough in defending herself in front of Eli. She might just have slunk away in shame under his false accusation. Instead, though, she lays claim on her position as a servant of God and isn't afraid to ask for what she wants. She doesn't just wallow in her misery, but does something about it. How often do we do this, failing to take Jesus' words to heart about asking our heavenly Father for what we need? If we ask for bread, will he give us a stone (Matthew 7:7­11)?

Prayer

God our Father, help us to turn to you in our troubles, and find the comfort that you are always ready to offer.


Rachel Boulding



[from New Daylight September - December 2007]