Sometimes life holds moments—and even needs— too deep for words. Not all silence comes from a desire to hide or pretend we’ve got life together. The reasons may be varied: Perhaps we feel the need to keep a rightful confidence or find that speaking puts another’s reputation at unnecessary risk. Other times, we fail to find sufficient wording to express the longing of our heart. Whatever the reason, from such a trial we learn that some places cannot be reached by human voice until we’ve surrendered to the divine.
Hannah knew such a place (1 Samuel 1:2). Unable to relate to her maternal longings, Elkanah couldn’t offer words to soothe her heartache, and Peninnah only cared to gain a more sizeable target for her barbed comments. No one understood—not even the priest who was appointed to go before the throne of God on her behalf (1 Samuel 1:14).
Silent before others, Hannah knelt before God in deep sadness as she wrestled with the unanswered questions of why the God who created the entire universe had not yet given her a single child (1 Samuel 1:5-6). In loving compassion, God answered.
Hannah’s hope in God, however, came long before the moment of Samuel’s conception. For in faith she vowed to dedicate her son to God if He chose to give her one (1 Samuel 1:11). And when she was assured by Eli that God would grant her request, she believed (1 Samuel 1:18).
Jesus had to drink of the bitter cup of sorrow (Luke 22:41-44). Though His anguish was infinitely greater than what Hannah experienced or what we might endure, He can identify with us in our pain and grief.
Able to bring life from barrenness, the God who heard Hannah’s cries is the same God today. Rest in His presence even as you acknowledge His sovereign ways.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 32:1-29
More:
Read Psalm 20:1-5 and consider what God’s presence means to us during difficult times.
Next:
How can living in a world of constant communication make us feel even more lonely in times of silence? How can we know when we need to share our struggles with others and when we need to speak them only to the Lord?
daisymarygoldr on February 16, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Faith helps us see the big picture. By withholding her from having a baby, God was able to move Hannah to pray fervently for a son. Peninnah’s taunting, Elkanah’s least helpful patronizing and Eli’s misunderstanding led Hannah to dedicate her son even before she was able to conceive him—in order for God to provide Israel with a prophet and deliverer.
Notice, Hannah did not take offense at being misunderstood by Eli. Being well aware of his reputation in raising wicked sons she did not bristle with self-righteous indignation to retort: “Who do you think you are? How dare you judge me falsely when you have allowed your own sons to indulge in sin? God’s Spirit cannot possibly be here among these abusive churchmen who hurt those who are already hurting. Surely God will not answer my prayers through those hypocrite Pharisees at church and it is better to stay at home and pray all by myself.”
Instead, Hannah honored Eli —the Lord’s anointed, and responded graciously with an explanation to clarify the facts, not with justification to defend her needy heart. Those who humble themselves will be exalted. Now, had Hannah accused Eli, she would have left the place with unanswered prayers. And God would have been able to raise Samuel through another woman. When the High Priest interceded on her behalf and bid her to “go in peace” she thankfully went back to eat again, and was no longer sad. What a display of faith. Peace means to be able to rest in the assurance that God has heard your prayers
We should share our struggles with others because this is the whole point of fellowship. However, others may not always understand our pain and in such situations we see Jesus as the perfect picture of faith. In extreme anguish when He desperately longed for the prayers of His friends, He found none. Yet He persevered passionately in prayer and battled all alone in petitioning His Father with tears and bloody sweat. He did not get mad at the disciples for their apparent indifference to His suffering. But He graciously allowed them to continue in their slumber while He prepared Himself to accomplish God’s will. It is in crisis where we submit to the full weight of God’s will.
So, what is our response when we are left to carry the cross on our own and there is no one even among our closest that can really comprehend what we are going through and pray with us? Do we harbor bitterness against God’s people and sulk in self-induced seclusion, feeling sorry for ourselves when slandered, betrayed and feel totally abandoned by God? When lonely in times of silence, and others cannot comprehend our struggles, let us not turn to the bottle or to Prozac— but prevail in prayer—for God’s will to be done.
Remember when no one is there is help us, we are not alone. Even though we are unable to pray the Holy Spirit will intercede on our behalf to take our groans and pain and turn it into a prayer that reaches the throne of grace and touches the very heart of God.
tom felten on February 17, 2012 at 8:35 am
daisymarygoldr, I love what you wrote: “Peace means to be able to rest in the assurance that God has heard your prayers.” We can have peace, for we know that He is good and worthy of all our trust!
BearPair on February 22, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Regina, we finally got around to reading this marvelous post… what a joy to be reminded of the “unspokeness” of our Savior’s passion, securing eternity for us! Thanks for your precise, yet heartfelt & descriptive writing on such a timely element of life.
nate8908 on February 16, 2012 at 8:01 am
At the very least, I hope that one could grasp the relevance of God’s love for us. In, that He does respond to our prayers and His Son did go through times of sorrow even more intense than this story of Hannah.
regina franklin on February 16, 2012 at 8:09 am
Dear Jackson,
Your questions are very real–as are your friends’. In no way did I write this article to suggest that our lack of answered prayer always connects back to a lack of surrender. I think it’s important to note the story of Hannah in that there were places that no human relationship held the answer to ease her heart–the same is true for your friends.
There are places they are walking that, while they may find comfort in knowing others have walked that same path, no one can provide the one answer that will make their pain subside. As Nate8908 has aptly answered, the only answer is the Cross. Understanding that His suffering far surpasses any we may endure doesn’t minimize our grief–it simply gives it context and brings healing.
May God give you wisdom with your friends and may the deep cries of their hearts lead them into greater intimacy with the One who knows and understands all.