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The first book of Samuel opens with the story of a man of the tribe of Ephraim named Elkanah and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Each year, Elkanah would take his family to Shiloh to worship God, because that is where the tabernacle was located at the time. While at the feast, Peninnah, who had children, would torment Hannah, who had none. This made poor Hannah so miserable that she did not even eat. Like many husbands, Elkanah just didn’t get it:

Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”(1 Samuel 1:8)

For her part, Hannah took her anguish to the One who would not fail to understand: she poured out her heart to God. Then, after an interesting conversation with the priest who mistook her anguish for drunkenness, we find a change in Hannah’s attitude:

So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. (1 Samuel 1:18)

What had happened to Hannah to bring about this change? She had pleaded, but had not received anything from God. The priest certainly was not much of a comfort. And yet, she evidently felt comforted. This brings to mind the following exhortation from the apostle Paul:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

If we have truly put our trust in Jesus, and lay all of our cares before God, there is no longer any place for the kind of anguish that afflicted Hannah when Peninnah taunted her. When we put our troubles in God’s hands, we know they will be handled in the right way.

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