Pain, Prayer, Promise, Praise

"She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly."  (1 Samuel 1:10)

Have you ever been so excited about something you at least said out loud, if not shouted, "Praise God"?  Have you ever been so frustrated by what is happening, not coming together - at least not the way you wanted it to work, you actually stopped to pray?  Have you ever been in so much pain - physical, mental or emotional - you were curled up crying out to God?  Romans 8:26 tells us "in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but he spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."

Our readings, today, are about prayer for what God is doing or will do.  Mary is thankful, and praising God for the promise of God with her.  She is rejoicing, praising God, and KNOWS God is fulfilling God's promise through her.  She is right - "All generations will call her blessed" even as we know the rest of the story.  In Galatians we are reminded of our faith.  Hannah's faith has her at the Temple literally crying out to God.  She promises God she will "set him before you" if God will give her a male child. (v. 11)  God answers Hannah's prayer and Hanna keeps her promise.  Samuel, the answer to Hannah's prayer grows up in the Temple, in close relationship with God.  Praise, from Mary, and pain from Hannah -- both in prayer and both praising God for hearing and answering their prayer.

How are we doing at "going to God in prayer"?  The answer isn't always what WE want -- Mary went through a LOT as God fulfilled the promise of the Messiah and Hannah DID give Samuel to God letting him grow up in the Temple.  At the same time both were praising God for hearing and helping.  As Caregivers do we praise God for hearing and helping as we go through the pain and difficulties?  Through all the things happening around us are we stopping to pray?  Something to think about........