1 Samuel 1:18

"....so the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."

Hannah, this sweet woman of God was weeping because she could not have children. Not only for women is that hard to deal with, but she was also being harassed by her husband's other wife b/c the other wife could have children. (Even at this time, it still was never God's plan for men to have more than one wife! So, its interesting how time and time again we see that peoples' sins affect other people than themselves.). Hannah takes her pain and grief to the Lord! She goes to the "house of the Lord" and cried out silently to God! Verse 18 is how Hannah left after falling before the God who hears and heals us. What I am so impressed about by Hannah is that, in this passage, she took her pain directly to the Lord. She didn't taunt the other wife back or get angry with her husband. She went to the only One who could truly deal with her pain!

Thank You Lord for taking our pain when we offer it to You!

Thank You for allowing me to come before Your throne with my heart!

My first response isn't always to come to You FIRST. Sometimes, I try to handle it on my own and then come to You so frustrated that I just want to give up. I know I should come to You first, and You will let me walk with You in peace through any trial.

Thank You for being there whether I come to You first or last.

Thank You for being the only One who fully understands and loves me.

Thank You for being 100% sufficient.

Thank You for answering my prayers, even if the answer is "no" or "wait".

Sometimes I come to you last b/c I feel like You don't REALLY know what I'm going through, or b/c I think I can handle it on my own. But those are both lies from the enemy.

You are God!

You are my Savior!

You created me and know me better than I know myself!

I pray that I will not allow these lies to hinder me from coming to You!