Samuel

April 20

1 Samuel 1:9-18

Brokenhearted

After the death of Samson, God raised up other judges to lead Israel.

There was a woman named Hannah who was very sad and upset because she couldn’t have children. One day, after she and her husband had finished their meal, Hannah was really upset and went to the Tabernacle to pray. She sobbed as she prayed, “Lord Almighty, look at me and see my deep hurt. If You give me a son, I promise that I will dedicate him to You for the rest of his life.”

Eli, the priest who had been watching her, thought she was drunk, but when he realized that she was talking to God about her deep hurt, he said, “May the God of Israel give you what you have asked Him for.”

Does God understand my deepest hurts?

We cannot avoid disappointments or steer our lives around hurts along the way, but it helps when we have someone who understands what we are going through.

If there was someone who could have had an easy ride through life, it was Jesus. He had the power to calm a storm at sea and make enough food to feed thousands. He could heal any sickness, and even escape death (Luke 4:28-30). Yet Jesus chose to go without food for forty days and leave home even though He had nowhere to sleep (Luke 9:58). He was born in a smelly stable, and was buried in a tomb that did not belong to Him. Even though Jesus healed many others of their pain, He allowed Himself to be whipped and crucified. Jesus became a man so that He could feel the pain that you feel (Hebrews 4:15); and because He is God’s Son, our Father in Heaven feels your pain too.

Verse for today

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3