"John 10:22-42
Pour out your heart and soul to God
Is there something you want desperately from God?
It is almost inevitable that at times in our lives we will feel ‘distress of soul’ (1:10, AMP). Never allow bitterness to eat away in your heart – but, like Hannah, pour it out to the Lord. ‘Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried – inconsolably’ (v.10, MSG).
There is nothing more releasing than to pour out one’s soul before the Lord – to tell him what your problems are, rather than carrying them around yourself – and to ask him for the solution, and then to receive the peace of God (Philippians 4:6–7).
Relief from her anguish comes to Hannah long before she actually sees the answer to her prayer.
This is a beautiful picture of heartfelt prayer from the depth of the soul. ‘As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard’ (1 Samuel 1:12–13a). Eli accuses her of being drunk. She replies, ‘Not so, my lord … I am a woman who is deeply troubled … I was pouring out my soul to the Lord … I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief’ (vv.15–16).
Eli tells her, ‘Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him’ (v.17). And as she left her face was no longer downcast: ‘She ate heartily, her face radiant’ (v.18, MSG). She knew deep down that God had heard her prayer and, indeed, ‘the Lord remembered her’ (v.19). In fact, God more than answered her prayer. Not only did he give her the child she longed for; she gave birth to six children (2:21).
Meanwhile, ‘the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with people’ (2:26). This is the prayer we have prayed so often for our children.
Hannah’s prayer after Samuel’s birth is a vivid demonstration of the soul satisfaction that she experiences through her relationship with God. She prays and thanks God that ‘those who were hungry hunger no more’ (v.5).
The amazing thing in Hannah’s prayer is that the supreme source of her joy is not her child, but in the Lord. She says, ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord’ (v.1). He is the source of her soul satisfaction.
‘I’m walking on air ... God brings life ... he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope, restoring dignity and respect to their lives’ (vv.1,6,8, MSG).
Lord, thank you for amazing answers to prayer which you give when we pour out our souls to you. Thank you that sometimes you answer our prayers in these remarkable ways. But whether we receive what we specifically ask for or not, you promise us your peace."
1. Lord, thank you indeed for peace. I could not ask for more.
2. Thank You for a fun-filled day and meeting little angels.
3. Hallelujah for fellowship, praise You for old friends.
