It seems that when we are in those moments of our life where we are hurting the most, that we often will seek the Lord the greatest.
In the book of 1 Samuel, a woman by the name of Hannah has been desperate to have a child. Despite her prayers to God, those prayers seem to have gone unanswered. As a result of Hannah’s broken heart and the constant taunting of a woman by the name of Peninnah who made fun of Hannah’s barrenness, Hannah has reached a place of desperation.
1 Samuel 1:13-15 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; 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 be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.”
There are those moments when we are so hurt or upset that we cannot pray. In those moments Romans chapter 8 says that the Spirit can pray for us as we just sit before the Lord and groan from within. Other times we pray too much from our head and not enough from our spirit. It may be good when we are really hurting inside to just sit and be still without speaking to the Lord. In these moments the spirit communicates those things that we are not able to express and they rise to God as a sweet savor.
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Does the Lord bring circumstances into our life that bring us to desperation? When He does allow this to happen in our life, what is the desired outcome He has in mind?
In verse 11 we see the purpose for which the Lord has delayed Hannah’s answer to her prayer for a son. The Lord wanted to move Hannah to dedicate her son to the Lord so that He could use this son for a greater purpose.
1 Samuel 1:11 Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life…
The prayers that flow out of a broken heart are the most sincere and powerful prayers that we are capable of. We can achieve the greatest goals in our life when we submit ourselves to the Lord so fully that we are completely emptied of all self-sufficiency and wisdom. When Hannah had come to end of herself, that is when the Lord was able to do His greatest work in her life.
As Hannah finishes the outpouring of her heart to God, she does something very interesting:
1 Samuel 1:19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah….
After Hannah has finished praying in her spirit to the Lord, she goes back home and begins to worship. When we have sat before the Lord and poured out our heart, afterwards we should rest in those prayers and offer up our sincere Praise and Thanksgiving for the answer that will be coming to those prayers.
In our walk with the Lord today, whatever it is that is heavy upon our heart, let us bring these burdens to Him. If we cannot pray because the pain is so deep, let us just sit before Him and moan from within. As we do, the spirit will carry our heart into the very presence of God. He will answer us in His time and in His way. Then having brought our petitions, let us turn to go home, praising and thanking Him in advance for the answers that will be coming soon.
Rob Robinson
