Imperfect Prayer: Learning From Biblical ExamplesSample

Lord of Hosts

I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. (v. 15)

Hannah is desperate. Her rival taunts her for being childless, which only compounds her disappointment. Her posture in prayer is deep distress and bitter weeping. As her lips quiver and she cries, the priest Eli chastises her because he thinks she is drunk. But she is not drunk, only “troubled in spirit” and “pouring out my soul before the LORD” (v. 15). She addresses her prayer to the “LORD of hosts” (v. 11), or perhaps “Yahweh of angel armies.”

This is the prayer of desperation for one who feels surrounded by attacks without and fears within. It reminds me of the war veteran who said, “There are no atheists in foxholes. Everyone prays in war.” Desperation is often the place where prayer begins. Maybe you’re there right now. Life is hard. “Anxiety and vexation” are great (v. 16). There appears to be no way out. So pray.

What does Yahweh do? He responds by giving her a son named “Samuel,” which sounds like Hebrew for “God hears.” What good news! The Lord hears all your cries and all the deep sighs of your soul. Jesus promised, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). The apostle Peter likewise invites us to “humble ourselves, “casting all [our] anxieties on him, because he cares for [us]” (1 Peter 5:6-7). Indeed, he does. Let this promise give you permission to cry out to God from your own place of desperation.

As you pray, pour out your soul to the Lord.