A Heart's Cry

God knows the story behind every tear fully! God speaks tear! – Candace McDowell

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.- Romans 8:26-27(NIV)

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book- Ps 56:8 (NIV)

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah—Ps 62:8

The story of Hannah has been on my mind for sometime now. I have read it a couple different times over the last few months and even during our Pillars Bible Study Candace had brought it up a few different times. So encouraged by her honesty and realness before God. She truly shows what it is to pour your heart out before the Lord. God was faithful and gave her a son. But, what encourages me the most is her honest, heartfelt, real prayer! She wasn’t concerned with the “right” words or even what people thought. She showed reverence, but was honest, raw, and real before God about how she felt  and what she desired!  

There once was a man who lived in Ramathaim. He was descended from the old Zuph family in the Ephraim hills. His name was Elkanah. (He was connected with the Zuphs from Ephraim through his father Jeroham, his grandfather Elihu, and his great-grandfather Tohu.) He had two wives. The first was Hannah; the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not.

Every year this man went from his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and offer a sacrifice to God-of-the-Angel-Armies. Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as the priests of God there. When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and because God had not given her children. But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite.

Her husband Elkanah said, "Oh, Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren't you eating? And why are you so upset? Am I not of more worth to you than ten sons?"

So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God's Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow: 
    Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, 
   If you'll take a good, hard look at my pain, 
   If you'll quit neglecting me and go into action for me 
   By giving me a son, 
   I'll give him completely, unreservedly to you. 
   I'll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.

It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God, Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, "You're drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!"

Hannah said, "Oh no, sir—please! I'm a woman hard used. I haven't been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I've been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God. Don't for a minute think I'm a bad woman. It's because I'm so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I've stayed here so long."

 Eli answered her, "Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him."

 "Think well of me—and pray for me!" she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant.

Up before dawn, they worshiped God and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and God began making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.

Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, "I asked God for him.” – 1 Samuel 1:1-20 (message)


I shared with our High School girls sunday night that the fact that God already knows my heart fully and my thoughts completely has helped me in my relationship with the Lord so much, because I know that God sees straight through me and into my heart. So I mid as well be real and honest before Him because he already knows. Beth Moore said one time "He see's through my bull..." 


Always remain reverent, remember Who you are talking to! You are coming before a Holy God, but you are also coming before your Heavenly Father who knows you fully and yet still loves you endlessly! There have been many times I have simply laid on the couch and just looked up and all I could muster up was "God..." He knows your heart. He knows the words you can't bring yourself to say yet. Not only does he know the story behind every tear...he knows the story behind every smile. He knows when you are jumping up and down about something...He knows why! I don't know, maybe this is just a revelation to me but, it has helped me so much in my relationship with the Lord. That I know when I come to him in prayer and can just pour it all out! Good. Bad. Ugly. Don't be afraid to ask God for what you desire. As my friend Jenna says you will either get a: Yes, no,  or wait. But he always has your best interest at heart and what will bring Him the most glory! I love that God cannot make an unbiased decision towards you or I! God cannot set his love for you aside to make a 'clear headed' decision. His love for you is always a factor! Always!