30 Day Devotional Journey - Anchored in HopeSample

Getting real with God

Ok let’s be real… sometimes it feels like our prayers hit the ceiling or the walls and fall back down at our feet, and we start to wonder what size a mustard seed really is… In these moments, how easy is it to feel hopeless and despondent? Thankfully, though situations may be different, the human condition hasn’t changed much in two thousand years. Our girl Hannah felt the same weight of unanswered prayers: "Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried–inconsolably" (1 Samuel 1:10 MSG).

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to finding hope when you’re "praying out of great anguish and sorrow" (1 Samuel 1:16 MSG) but Hannah does provide us with an example of getting real with God and walking out faith even when you don’t feel like it. Hannah keeps praying and she is real and raw with God (vv10–11). He knows anyway… so just get it all off your chest. Hannah remains faithful–she stays and keeps worshipping. In your despair and pain, stay connected.

Written by NATALIE BENNETT