Tears of Sorrow

 Hanna faced several problems that caused her to shed tears of sorrow. One of these difficulties was that she was in a bigamous marriage, and her husband's other wife, Peninnah, despised her. As if that were not bad enough, Hannah was childless, while Peninnah had several children. (1 Samuel1:1, 2) Peninnah relentlessly taunted Hannah about her barrenness. How would you feel in such a situation? Hannah was so upset that "she would weep and not eat," and she became "extremely bitter" at heart. - 1 SAMUEL 1:6. 7, 10. 

How did Hannah find comfort? One thing that helped her was that she went to the center of true worship, the tabernacle. There, possibly somewhere near the entrance to the courtyard of the tabernacle, "she began to pray to Jehovah and to weep uncontrollably." She begged Jehovah: "Look upon the affliction of your servant and remember me." (1 Samuel 1:10b, 11) Hannah poured out her feelings to Jehovah in prayer. How moved was Jehovah must have been to see the tears of this precious daughter of his!

Next time: Tears of Sorrow

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