When Your Heart Hurts
We can tell so much about a woman’s faith by the way she handles pain.
Not when life is easy or when everything is going her way, but in those moments when her heart is aching, when disappointment has settled in, and when life feels unfair and unkind. It is in those sacred and stretching seasons that our faith is truly revealed.
In 1 Samuel 1, we are introduced to a woman named Hannah. Her story is both tender and deeply relatable. Hannah longed for a child, yet year after year her womb remained empty. This was not a quiet or private sorrow, but one that was magnified by the presence of another in her life who continually provoked her and reminded her of what she did not have.
Hannah lived with daily heartache. She carried the weight of disappointment, and she endured the sting of words and actions that could have easily pushed her toward bitterness. She had every opportunity to respond in kind, to defend herself, or to allow the pain to define her. But instead, Hannah made a choice—one that would shape not only her story, but generations to come.
Scripture tells us that in her deep distress, Hannah “prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” She did not take her pain to the people around her in a way that would stir up more conflict or deepen the wound. She did not allow her emotions to be dictated by how she was being treated. Instead, she brought every ounce of her sorrow directly to the Lord.
Hannah took her pain vertically.
This is where so many of us struggle, isn’t it? When we are hurt, our natural inclination is to go horizontal. We replay conversations, we seek validation, we try to be understood, or we respond out of the very pain we are carrying. And yet, none of those responses ever truly heal what is broken inside of us.
Hannah shows us a better way.
She poured out her soul before the Lord. She was honest about her grief and unashamed of her tears. There was no pretense in her prayer, no attempt to appear strong or composed. She simply came as she was—broken, weary, and longing—and she entrusted it all to God.
And in that sacred exchange, something profound happened.
Hannah entered the presence of the Lord carrying the weight of her sorrow, but she left with a heart that had been steadied by His peace. While her circumstances had not yet changed, something within her had. The turmoil quieted. The desperation softened. The burden she had been carrying was no longer hers alone.
Isn’t that the true miracle of prayer?
Yes, we come to God with our requests, and yes, we ask Him to move in our circumstances. But even more than that, prayer is the place where our hearts are made whole. It is where we are reminded that we are seen, that we are loved, and that we are never alone in our suffering.
Perhaps you find yourself in a season much like Hannah’s. You may be carrying a disappointment that feels heavy and unrelenting. You may be walking through a situation where you feel misunderstood, overlooked, or even wounded by others. And if you are honest, you may feel the pull toward frustration, toward hurt, or even toward bitterness.
But there is another way.
You can take your pain vertically.
You can bring every tear, every question, and every ache to the feet of Jesus. You can trust that He is neither overwhelmed by your emotions nor distant from your pain. He welcomes you into His presence, not because you have it all together, but because you don’t.
Hannah’s story reminds us that we do not have to carry our pain alone. When we choose to bring it to the Lord, He meets us there with compassion and with peace. He begins the gentle and holy work of restoring what has been broken within us.
Hannah’s circumstances did eventually change, but the first and most important transformation happened in her heart.
And that is available to you today as well.
A Gentle Invitation
Today, I want to encourage you to do what Hannah did.
Find a quiet moment and come before the Lord just as you are. There is no need to filter your words or to hold back your emotions. Speak honestly. Pray sincerely. Allow your heart to be fully known by the One who already knows you best.
And then, in faith, leave your pain in His hands.
The God who met Hannah in her distress is the same God who will meet you. He is faithful, He is near, and He is more than enough for whatever you are facing today.
On today’s episode, Carol McLeod talks with Ruth Schleppi-Verboom about Sunday Evenings with Joni, a collection of personal conversations with Joni Eareckson Tada. What began as simple moments of caregiving grew into meaningful discussions about faith, suffering, and God’s grace in everyday life. Ruth shares how these quiet Sunday evenings became a source of wisdom shaped by decades of perseverance and trust in God. Tune in and be encouraged as this conversation offers steady hope and practical insight for anyone navigating challenges or longing to trust God more deeply!