Listen

Whenever he sacrificed, Elkanah would give parts of the sacrifice to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But he would give only one part of it to Hannah, though he loved her, because the Lord had kept her from conceiving. And because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving, her rival would make fun of her mercilessly, just to bother her. So that is what took place year after year. Whenever Hannah went to the Lord’s house, Peninnah would make fun of her. Then she would cry and wouldn’t eat anything.

“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah would say to her. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you so sad? Aren’t I worth more to you than ten sons?”

One time, after eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah got up and presented herself before the Lord. (Now Eli the priest was sitting in the chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple.)Hannah was very upset and couldn’t stop crying as she prayed to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:4-10

Think

It is too much. I feel alone. I don’t think anyone understands me. Why am I so sad? Sometimes life stinks. Period. Things happen. Everything that I thought was solid comes crashing down.

That is when I need to pray. In the depth of my sadness, I let my tears fall down on God. God created those tears. God weeps with me. I might feel alone, but I am not alone.

I can pray. I can turn to my God of tears.

Dan Shoemake

Pray

God of tears, hear me cry. Feel my pain and hurt. Sit with me in the well of darkness. Let me know I am not alone. Amen.

Go

Go. Breathe in. Where are you? Be there. Breathe out.

Go. Breathe in. What do you need to do today? Do it boldly. Breathe out.

Go. Breathe in. God is here. Be here. Breathe out.

Be. Be you.

Let the you be.