When God Doesn’t Answer Right AwaySample

Loved, Blessed… and Still Longing

Have you ever felt deeply blessed—and still deeply longing? You can have a good life, be loved, and still ache for the one thing God hasn’t given you. Hannah was a woman who some would say had it all. She was married to a man named Elkanah, who was faithful and God-fearing. Elkanah took his family to Shiloh, where the presence of God dwelled, to worship and make sacrifices. He was not only devout, but had the means to make this trip and take his family. In addition to having a husband who was a strong spiritual leader and a good provider, Hannah had her husband’s love. Elkanah had another wife, named Peninnah, and the Bible says that Elkanah would publicly honor Hannah by giving her the best portion of meat from his sacrifice. Hannah was provided for in a godly environment and deeply loved, but she suffered inside. Hannah had no children.

To add insult to injury, Peninnah had children. Every day, Hannah’s hope deferred was before her eyes as she witnessed Peninnah become pregnant, give birth, and raise children. Hannah scraped through her day-to-day with a gaping hole she learned to live with, but certain times of year pushed her to her limits. Every year when Elkanah took his family to worship and sacrifice, Hannah’s barrenness was even more noticeable to her and everyone else. Elkanah would give Hannah the best portion of meat from the sacrifice because he loved her dearly, but he gave a portion of meat to Peninnah and each of her children. Piling on to Hannah’s misery, Peninnah would taunt her for being childless. Hannah would cry inconsolably and Elkanah could not understand why. She had a godly husband who protected her, provided for her, and loved her. What more could she ask for?

Hannah was loved, but not fulfilled. She was seen, but not understood. She was blessed, and yet barren. Scripture says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12) and Hannah lived that out every single day. For years, Hannah carried a sick heart despite having everything else a woman at that time could have hoped for. She couldn’t even find relief or encouragement at her place of worship because that experience highlighted for her what she desired but did not have.

I relate to Hannah more than I wish I did. I know what it feels like to know you are blessed and loved, yet something is missing. I know what it’s like to have loved ones not understand my suffering and belittle it. To be surrounded by others who have what I’ve been praying for, and feel the weight of that. To walk into places that should give me hope and encouragement, and instead be overwhelmed with burdens of what you don’t have.

You can be deeply loved, visibly blessed, and still quietly broken, and God meets you there. On the outside looking in, you may have everything anyone could want, but still ache with longing for something. Perhaps the people who love you the most, even spiritual leaders, don’t understand why you’re not fulfilled. The places that should be an oasis of joy torment you instead. But even when no one around her understood, God saw Hannah. Like Hannah, God is not absent in our suffering. Scripture says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Psalm 34:18). If your spirit has been crushed by a broken heart, disappointment and hope deferred, know God is close to you and he will rescue you.

But Hannah’s story doesn’t end in silent suffering—read Day 2 to see where she takes her pain, and how it changes everything.

Anchor Thought:

God sees me, and He will not leave me here.

Short Prayer:

Father, thank you that my pain and emotions do not scare you. I know you are with me in my suffering and brokenheartedness. You will rescue me when my spirit is crushed. God, I know you see me and I won’t be left in this place. Help me to know you are near, and that you understand me.