Turn to the Lord when You are Greatly Distressed

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:9-11

Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head."

Insights: As long as we live on this side of eternity we will have times of great distress.  For Hannah the distress was a result of her inability to have children.  It plagued her constantly.  It did not help that her husband’s other wife Peninnah often ridiculed her.  Our distress can take on many forms: a loss of a job, a death of a loved one, a physical infirmity that has debilitated us, a relationship that has gone sour, and an endless other possibilities.  The point is we have all experienced distress.  We, however, have not all responded as Hannah did.  Notice from this passage what she did in her distress.  She prayed to the Lord.  In other words, from a New Testament perspective, she ran to Jesus.  Beloved, when you are greatly distressed, let me encourage you to turn to the Lord.  Let Him be your healer, your confidant, your strength, your provision, and whatever else you of which you are in need.  Turn to Him and let Him work miraculously in your life.

Questions:

1. What kind of distress are you facing in your life presently?
2. Have you tried to carry the weight on your own?

Prayer: Father, help me indeed to turn to You when I am in great distress.  You are the only One who can relieve my suffering and pain.  Thank You for Your grace and provision.  Amen.