Day 2

SEEKING RELIEF

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2

Hannah faced her problem for quite a while. The more she reasserted her faith the more Peninnah goaded her, telling her she had failed and God would not help. We see in 1 Sam. 1:10 how deep her distress was but also how honest she was in pouring out her problem and her complaints to God. When Eli challenged her in the temple her adamant reply was "...out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken" (verse 16). Prayer didn't result in any immediate solutions but turning to God strengthened her and renewed her confidence in God's leading. It's clear that for Hannah turning to God was as natural as breathing because of her past experience with him.

Job's faith is even more striking. Read his declaration, made under appalling circumstances, in Job 13:15. Also look at Paul's statement from jail, when it was clear that he was to die and everything seemed to be working against him (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

How could Hannah, Job and Paul be so positive when all around seemed so negative?

Could you trust God in such circumstances?

Father, when everything around seems to be against me help me not to be overwhelmed but to turn to you.