2026 Sacred Whispers Blog

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.”

I Samuel 1:10

Have you ever had a situation that just consumed you? Have you ever had a circumstance that would not change even though you often prayed about it? Have you ever experienced a deep pain that caused you to feel hurt, angry, sad, or depressed? Have you ever wondered why God would treat you so unfavorably or unfairly? Have you ever been so vexed or anguished about a situation that it made you bitter, fussy, and intolerant?

Seasons like these remind us that God often does His deepest work in the places where we feel the most undone. Pain has a way of revealing what peace has allowed us to ignore.

THE CONDITION

If you can answer yes to any of the above questions, then let me introduce you to Hannah. Hannah is the first of two wives of a man named Elkanah. Now, if you reflect upon Hannah being the first of two wives, you may quickly surmise that drama, hurt, and anger will be central to her story. Hannah was barren, and as a result of her barrenness, her husband convinced her that he should bring a second wife into the household so he could have a child. Now, you know most women are not having this. However, Hannah appeared to agree, or at least submit to this decision.

Well, as life would have it, the second wife, Penninah, had children, many children. Not only did Penninah have many children, Hannah remained barren, and Penninah became Hannah’s enemy and tormented her for her barrenness. I Samuel 1:6 reads, “And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb.”

Hannah so internalized the situation and the mistreatment that she often wept and did not eat when the family journeyed each year to the Lord’s house in Shiloh. One can imagine that must have been some family trip each year. Pain that lingers year after year often hardens from sorrow into bitterness. Many people suffer silently, believing the only option is to endure rather than to be transformed.

One year, as they took the annual family trip, Hannah’s husband observed her hurt and anguish that caused her to weep and not eat. I Samuel 1:8 states, “Then Elkanah her husband said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?’”

Something must have hit a nerve in Hannah, because she did not even respond to her husband. I Samuel 1:9 reads, “So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD.”

Clearly, Hannah had a condition. Many may conclude that Hannah’s condition was her barrenness. However, I would challenge that by sharing her condition was not her barrenness but the bitterness in her soul. Hannah appears to have been overwhelmed by her barrenness, which was beyond her control. To add insult to injury, Hannah was now a wife in a household with a husband producing children by a second wife who seemed to take pleasure in provoking her about her inability to have children.

Hannah’s response, not responding to her husband’s questions, leaving dinner abruptly, not eating, weeping uncontrollably, and being easily and consistently provoked, irritated, and angered by Penninah, suggests that Hannah had internalized the situation, resulting in an inward condition that was spiritual in nature and not physical. Hannah had become bitter, and her unhealthy relationships, lack of joy, and unhealthy responses to others were indicators of the internal condition of her soul. She had become bitter toward her husband, bitter with Penninah, bitter about the situation, and most likely bitter with God. While Hannah’s name means “favored,” she probably did not feel too favored at this point in her life.

Bitterness is often grief with nowhere to go, disappointment that has taken root, or sorrow that has forgotten how to breathe.  However, it appears she was ready for a change. The family drama vexed her enough. Hannah had had enough and desired a change for the better. Hannah decided to rise up and go to the tabernacle of the Lord. It was time for her to change.

THE CURE

Oftentimes, we want God to change our circumstances. However, God seems to be more interested in changing us first before He moves to change our circumstances. Hannah was physically in Shiloh, the place of peace, but she was not in Shiloh spiritually. Hannah realized she was in a sunken and bitter place. However, Hannah recognized what and who she needed, the Lord of hosts, the God who battles. Sometimes God will allow us to reach a point where running from the hurt no longer works, and running to Him becomes the only path forward.

She went to the house of God to pray. I Samuel 1:10 reads, “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.” Hannah must have recognized that she was battling with God, the Lord of hosts, and not her barrenness or Penninah. Maybe Hannah had a different vision for her desired child than what God had. Could it be that God had shut up her womb until Hannah’s desire for the child aligned with His purpose and plan for the child?

Nevertheless, Hannah prayed. Not only did Hannah pray, but she “vowed a vow,” which suggests that Hannah conceded her will to God’s will for the desired child. I Samuel 1:11 states, “Then she made a vow and said, ‘O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’”

No, Hannah would not get to see the child she desired grow up in the house with the other children. Hannah realized that God wanted the child for His purposes and that would include the child being dedicated to the Lord all the days of his life. Hannah poured out her heart, complaint, and bitterness to God, recognized that she could no longer battle with God, repented before God, and submitted to the Lord of hosts.

A surrendered heart is the soil where transformation grows.

THE CHANGE

Hannah prayed through from bitterness to a place of ‘betterness’. Hannah prayed until she changed for the better. She recognized that the key to overcoming bitterness was to acknowledge that God was sovereign over every situation, that God is good in every circumstance, and that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). She left at the altar what she poured out to God.

While her condition may have remained the same until God sovereignly changed it, she received God’s peace and grace, embraced the promises of God, and recognized she was favored by God regardless of her physical and uncontrollable circumstances. Hannah got up, went her way, ate some food, and was no longer sad. Joy returned not because her circumstances shifted but because her soul did.

Her change was evident in her countenance of joy, the improved relationship with her husband and Penninah, the eventual change in her physical or outward circumstances, the way she embraced God’s will and fulfilled her vow to Him, and her prayer which acknowledged the Lord of hosts, I Samuel 2:1–10:

“My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble. The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; from heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Hannah’s story teaches us that prayer does not simply change things, until it has first changed us.

PRAYER

Lord of hosts, I acknowledge that You are the God who battles and wins. I submit to Your will, plan, and purpose for my life. I repent of battling with You. I recognize that I cannot win when I battle with You. I ask that You give me peace in the situations that I cannot control. I repent of all bitterness, anger, frustration, irritableness, fussiness, unreasonableness, and meanness. I ask for Your help to walk in fullness of joy and love toward everyone in my life. I recognize that You expect me to become better even if my physical circumstances never change. Father, I thank You for the opportunity You have given me this day to become more like You, to be better.

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE

Think about your reflections, responses, and relationships. Be honest with yourself and God. If they seem to be unhealthy in any way, then ask God to reveal to you the condition, the cure, and the change He wants to enable and enact in your life. Wake up each morning with a commitment to live each new day better than the day before.