Hannah, a woman without children and yet she was sadden that she bore no children for her husband Elkanah. She was taunted by the other wife of her husband Elkahan because she bore no children. She began to fret over being barren to the point she could not eat and even her husband taunt her by saying am I not better then ten sons to thee. He had given to his wife earlier in the story a double portion then what he gave his other wife who had given him ten sons. Yet even the blessing and honor that were bestowed by her husband for her sacrifice at the temple was not enough. Hannah, instead of remain with her husband and the second wife, she went to the temple with bitterness weeping and she bowed down and prayed. The best and only thing a person can do when the enemy is taunting you is to pray, yet truth is as human's we do not always pray in the storms the enemy seems to throw at us through others verbal attacks. Attacks of the devil did not stop with family, as she prayed weeping over the issue the devil came through the Priest Eli who thought she was drunk and a woman of Belial/devil/a harlot. She defends herself to him by telling him she was praying.

Now Priest Eli seeing he had mistaken her, blessed her by saying,"Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him". Hannah with that felt much better and went and join her husband and the second wife feasting. When we finished praying we need to rise up and go about our normal duties. When I was young wife, I spent many hours alone because of my chronic pain. My husband was always working and because of income and not from the area I live in I was forced indoors. In my distress there were times I would pray, seek God and then get up and do whatever chores needed doing. The hours of loneliness can get to a person even in good times. Yet there is point the emotion and taunting of life can be enough to cause one's anger. Yet the point God allows us to come to our knees he will bless us. Meaning we got to get to the point we seek God instead of allowing the enemy to devour us with his comments. The enemy will use almost anyone to cause this type of torment.

What did I personally gain from those hours of being alone, I learn to cross stitch, I read books, learned many things from the television, despite the chronic pain I was in, I found myself determind to be the best wife I could by taking care of my health best I could, even exercising regularly, and cooking homemade meals. None of this time really wasted, because staying busy past the hours of the day more quickly.

God does not need us to get to a place of depression, resentment or anger at our situation, he wants us to rise up above our situation, but he wants us to learn to rise up through his comfort of his Spirit in our life. Meaning Hannah was at the point of grief, tears running, and begging God to remove her bareness and she would give her son to him. The anxiety of being without a child greater then her contentment of being a much loved wife by her husband. Her husband love just was not enough this time, in this particular time in her life, her sorrow and anger of the mockery of her condition such she was willing to do anything to get her prayer answered. Yet she knew not God was fixing to answer her request, but the final mocking had to come for her prayer to be granted by God. She was accused because of her tears and seeable prayer as her lips moved as being drunk and woman of the devil/harlot.

God granted her through prophesy the hope she need to return to her family at the dinner table. She no longer feeling humilitated because of no children but she rose up and went about her duties. She went home and conceived and she held to her promise to the Lord and gave her son to God at the temple to the very Priest who accused her of being a woman of the devil. Do we honor God with the answer to prayer, or the receiving from the comfort of his Spirit in our life. Do we pray or only remain bitter. Our cross must be taken to the altar of grace, bearing it before God telling him and leaving it there for Him to solve.

Instead of allowing the devil to throw his darts, we rebuke him, pray and seek God for the answer. There are time when it might seem, like one does not have time for prayer, but it is the best thing that can happen. It keeps one from loosing their cool often times, and it keeps the petition before God of our desire of our heart and not the sin of bitterness of our heart.

God in his grief over man, laid that foundation of understanding of eternal life of believing him at his word, so we could be forgiven of our sins and learn to trust in God for the blessings in our daily life. He gave his Son has promised, to give us that choice of faith in him to deliver us from our sin. He did not keep his Son in the grave but God raised him up to have victory over sin. Jesus own prayer in the garden as he wept great sweat of blood for us. He choosing to do the will of God all the way to the cross, so he could rise up once more.

Hannah rose up and continued on in her journey she did not stay in her tears and bitterness. She took the Priest words that came from God. She stood on faith in God's word and then held to her vow and promises she made to God, when she gave birth to her son Samuel. Samuel would become a great prophet in the land of Israel.

Dear Heavenly Father, remind us to pray when the stress and bitterness of this world tries to sneak in, leave us not in our bitterness but help us to cleave to your promises through your word, in Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Psalm 102:1-18 KJV
1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.