Pour out your soul

What's the one thing in life that we want above everything else? It's different for everyone. For Hannah, it was a child. After years of not falling pregnant, Hannah could've blamed God. Instead, she turned to him. She didn't give up, but pushed harder: 'And she made a vow: 'Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant, but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life' (1 Samuel 1:11 NIV).

When life is bleak, we can easily look for something or someone to blame. Often we shake our fists at God when, as Psalm 62:8 says, 'God is our refuge.' Hannah was vulnerable and broken before God. She prayed so earnestly and deeply that the High Priest watching her pray thought she was drunk, but she said: 'I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring my soul to the Lord' (1 Samuel 1:15 NIV).

When the thing we want most isn't coming, is it our first instinct to get vulnerable with God? It can be hard. We know, and so does he know. But he's really faithful, and even though Hannah had a tough process, God gifted her an amazing son, Samuel. Next time we're in real need, let's try praying 'pouring our soul out to the Lord' style.



So what now? Spend deliberate prayerful time telling God what you need. Then, most importantly, wait and listen for his answer.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.' Psalm 62:8 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

1 Ki 14-15, Luke 12:13-21, Ps 61, Pro 6:16-19