Devotion 
Pour out your soul before the Lord
David Jacobs 

One of my best friends' growing up had a series of tragedies occur to him: his father died in a plane crash, one year later his mother died of cancer, and a few months after that his mother-in-law committed suicide, unable to bear with the grief. My friend was plunged into the harsh waters of reality, and he coped with it by drinking and doing drugs. After a few years, he realized that his actions were only making him feel worse, and started going to church again. Within a few months, he turned back into one of the most positive people I've ever met. He told me that for years he felt that he was drowning, but he soon realized that it was his own actions that held him underwater. Once he went to God, he felt that he could swim again.

Hannah is unable to bear children, which is a hardship made her sad and perhaps feel inadequate. The inability to have children at that time also made your life far more difficult, because you did not have anyone to take care of you or your property as you grew older. Her sorrow was holding her back just like the example of my friend. She refused to eat, which probably made her less healthy and less able to get pregnant, and in turn, more sad.

After talking with Eli, some of the sadness is lifted. She leaves Eli feeling more positive, eating, and shedding her sad disposition. Not long after, she finally gets pregnant, with a son named Samuel.

Life can sometimes make you feel hopeless: death, disease, misfortune. No matter what happens in your life, there is hope. God is there, and if you do as Hannah did, pouring out your soul for the Lord, God will hear your prayers. He heard Hannah's; He heard my friend's.

Prayer 

Patient Shepherd, loving Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer. Lord, I know that I have strayed from you when times have been difficult for me. I pray today hoping that you will remind me, O Lord, that it is in these times that I most need your loving embrace. Remind me also to hug those around me that are at their low points. I will go from this place to love you, love people, serve you, and serve people. Amen.