Hannah: A Vessel Broken by Sorrow (4) - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.
1 Samuel 2:1 NKJV

Hannah: A Vessel Broken by Sorrow (4)
Hannah's heart was full of worship and praise for who God is and what He has done. She is occupied with about ten different attributes that describe who God is! Her brokenness was used by God to cause Hannah to think on His strength (1 Sam. 2:1), His holiness (2:2), the uniqueness of God (2:2), His omniscience (2:3), the justice of God (2:3), His omnipotence (2:4), the Great Provider (2:5), the Sovereign One (2:6-8), the Faithful One (2:9), and His righteousness in judgment (2:10). Hannah was occupied not only with what God had done for her, but especially with who God was to her. Through her brokenness Hannah learned that His stability is unshakable, His comfort is incomparable, His power is unconquerable, His love is unchangeable, His compassion is inexhaustible, His shield is impenetrable, and His peace is inexplicable! God blessed her with three more sons and two daughters (2:20-21).

This praying mother taught her son to pray, and Samuel became a praying prophet in Israel (3:1-21). Hannah's brokenness was not only used of God to bring sweetness to her soul, but to bring about a prophet of God who was known as a man of prayer. He prayed for restoration (7:5), he prayed in times of frustration (8:6), he prayed in intercession (12:19-23), and he prayed in lamentation (15:11). All because his mother was broken and took that brokenness to the Lord!

What about You? The most wonderful thing we can learn about our cries is that our loving Father hears every single one, just as He did for Hannah and so many more! He will hear your cries today!

-- Tim Hadley, Sr.