A few weeks ago I wrote about “a still small voice as loud as thunder” and how when someone whispers to us we will have to get close to them in order to hear what they are trying to quietly communicate. It would also be sad to think that God is speaking to us, but because we are not close enough to Him we think we only hear thunder.
In the OT Book of 1 Samuel in the first chapter we can read about Hannah who was suffering depression because she could not have a child and was being bullied and taunted by another lady because of it.
Hannah had lost her appetite, cried continually, was not understood by others, and deeply grieved in her heart. Feeling great bitterness in her soul she cried out to God. As she was praying so intently chapter 1:13 reads, “Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.” The priest, Eli saw her and couldn’t hear what she was saying and only her lips moving and he actually even accused her of being drunk.
However, after she poured out her heart to God she verbally told Eli that she had a sorrowful spirit and that she had just poured out her soul to God. “Then Eli answered and told her to go in peace and that God would grant her the petition she has made,” which in time He did, giving her a son, Samuel.
Hannah was heartbroken and was crying out to God within her heart and though her “voice” was not heard by others her heart’s cry was heard by God. Proverbs 1:28 informs that, “they will call on Me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but they will not find Me.” This lets us know that just because we say a prayer doesn’t mean God will listen. God will always hear a prayer of repentance and prayers that are like Hannah’s. Just as it says in Psalms 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart; these God will not despise.”
The next time your heart is broken and you are filled with sorrow just move your lips and let your heart cry out so that only God can hear and grant your request.
11-5-22 for The Wayne Weekly
Rays of Hope 