"Go Forth In Peace"

As I was seeking the Lord today, and asking what I should share He spoke to me very clearly that I should take a look at Hannah and her prayer. So I turned to 1Samuel 1 and started reading.  The long and short of it after reading through her story is this ... there were a few  verses that He highlighted and a couple of thoughts that struck me. So, let's start by taking a look at verses 9 & 19. 'So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.'

Hannah was in the temple for one reason and one reason only, to lay her anguish, her bitterness of soul before the Lord. We know from verse 8 that her husband didn't understand the anguish she felt because or her barreness. We also know from verse 14 that Eli, the priest didn't understand what was going on as well. The thing we need to know and understand is this, it doesn't matter if people know or understand  because ... God does!

He heard her cry and sent her on her way with this promise in her heart as a replacement for her anguish. "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." We know the anguish and bitterness she came with was replaced with hope and a certainty that He had heard her prayers based on verse 18 which tells us "So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."  I love that a word from the Lord was all that it took to assure her that her barrenness was over!

Now, having said all that, we need to know and understand that we to not only can but should be following Hannah's example and be laying all our hearts before Him. He hears and will answer every cry, even those that no one else understands and like Hannah, we too can go forth believing that He has heard our cry. Why? Because He has promised! He has told us to:

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

Trust Him and let every bitterness of heart, anguish of soul, and need be replaced with a hope and a confidence that is found only in Him. Remember, like Hannah, you too can go forth in peace because ... His Word to you is this ..."Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" Jeremiah 32:27