I Samuel 1:15
‘But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.”‘
We all have times when we are distressed. What do we do with that? The Lord designed us to share those burdens with others (2 Corinthians 1:4).
In addition to that, we are to go to God with our troubles. Hannah describes it as “poured out my soul before the Lord.” This sounds beautiful and terrible.
Pouring out one’s soul is beautiful in that it is so personal. Hannah trusted the Lord a great deal to do so. He is not a harsh God, but one with great understanding.
One’s natural tendency is to see God as stern. Looking at the cultures in the rain forests, we see scary idols designed to ward off evil spirits. Some of their gods require great sacrifices to appease them.
The Bible speaks of a God of love that can be and desires to be approached. Hannah was taught that God loved her and would hear her prayers. She had developed a relationship with Him that was intimate.
Pouring out one’s soul is terrible in that it is so intimate. Part of it sounds scary. Most people have parts of themselves that they don’t share. Sometimes we deny those parts as there are too difficult to ponder. Do we disclose those areas to the Lord? He is safe. Our defenses are such that it’s very difficult.
Hannah would pour out her soul to the Lord. We should do the same. David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way”, (Psalm 139:23,24). David was comfortable with and accustomed to being open to the Lord. We can trust God not to overwhelm us with too much. He will reveal as much as necessary.
Lord, thank You that You are trustworthy. Help us to learn to go to You with our hurts.