November 8, 2021

Monday

Seasons of Sorrow

1 Samuel 1: 12-18

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.”

1 Samuel 1:15

Perhaps she’d been carefree as a child; maybe as a young bride she’d beamed with joy. But things had gone badly for Hannah. Her home was troubled by another woman, and Hannah’s own desire for motherhood was unfulfilled. She had become a woman of sorrowful spirit.

In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah took her burdens to the Lord in earnest prayer and gained assurance of God’s concern and care. The old priest Eli offered an encouraging word. According to 1 Samuel 1:18, Hannah got up, changed her attitude, and left with joy. Her circumstances had not yet changed, but she had changed—and God had given her hope.

Sorrow can be a stepping stone to happiness as we discover God’s faithfulness through challenging times. Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

If you have a sorrowful spirit, take your burdens to the Lord Jesus. He knows how to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3).

A point to ponder…

Jesus took away the only kind of suffering that can really destroy you: that is being cast away from God.

Tim Keller

Read the Bible through in a year

John 9-10

I love you!!!

© 2000-2021 B. Michael Goerlich