Do You Have Sorrow?

Do You Have Sorrow?
1 Sam. 1:1, 2

        This world has become a world of sorrow.  Countenances are down and every song seems to be in a minor key.  If you have not experienced sorrow, hold on; your time is coming.  It seems to be an attribute of life.  What brings so much sorrow?  Sometimes it comes from your own jealousy.  An example is in verse 2.  Elkanah had two wives.  One was Hannah, and the other was Peninnah.  Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.  Hannah was jealous because Peninnah had children, and she did not.  Sorrow may come from someone else's jealousy of you.  In verse 4, 5 as they would go to worship, Elkanah gave portions to Peninnah and her children, but he gave to Hannah a larger portion because he loved her.  Sometimes sorrow comes from acts of God Himself.  In verse 5 we read that the LORD had shut Hannah's womb.

        Sorrow may come from misunderstanding.  It may be misunderstanding one you love.  At the place of worship Hannah refused to eat and drink because of her grief.  Elkanah sought to comfort her, but she could not be comforted.  One might be sorrowed because of others' misunderstanding of you in your religion.  According to verses 10-17 in Hannah's grief she prayed and wept.  She vowed to God, that if He would give her a son, she would give the son back to God.  Eli, the priest, saw her mouth moving and assumed her to be drunk.  He rebuked her.  She explained what whe had been doing, and Eli sent her away with his blessing.

        Is there no antidote for all the world's sorrow?  Like Hannah we can pray.  In trust we can cast all our care on the Lord, (1 Pet. 5:7) "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."   Like Hannah we can make a commitment to the Lord.

        In verse 20 God gave a son, Samuel, to Hannah.  God may also be gracious to you.

        One caution, however, to you who would comfort a grieving person.  It is not time to preach to them.  They won't hear you because of their grief.  Demonstrate your love to them.  Let them cry on your shoulder as we say.  When they are comforted, you may then preach to them. They may then also be ready to listen, because you comforted them with the demonstration of your love.