“In my distress, I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.”

— Psalm 18:6

During my childhood, in my parents’ home, we had a helper who assisted us with cleaning and cooking. She had a troubled marriage and three kids. Her husband was cheating on her, and both he and his new girlfriend were abusing her emotionally.

The distressed woman often shared her agony and expressed her pain to my mom. She continued to do that every single day. My mom listened patiently for some time, and then she got tired of hearing the same story over and over again.

Later, when our helper realized that my mom was no longer showing any interest, she started talking to herself and pretending to have conversations with her husband. Slowly, she began to yell at her imaginary husband.

Whenever we walked in during those moments, she would stop what she was doing and focus on her work. It got so bad that she started to literally fight with her imaginary husband, and she couldn’t even rest from doing that. Eventually, she began to throw things against her imaginary husband.

We couldn’t help her much because we didn’t know Jesus back then. Sadly, she ended up in a hospital that treated people with mental health conditions, and she remained there as her condition worsened. That is how an unaddressed and distressed person’s mental health can become damaged.

But a distressed woman named Hannah in the Bible handled it differently.

A man named Elkanah had two wives—Hannah and Peninnah. The world of Peninnah was full of life and celebration, while Hannah’s world was full of shame and heartache because she was barren.

Fortunately, her husband loved Hannah. It was the custom for Elkanah to go up year after year to sacrifice and worship the Lord at Shiloh. Elkanah gave a double portion of the sacrifice to Hannah compared to Peninnah, who went to the house of the Lord with her sons and daughters.

Peninnah provoked and grieved Hannah because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb. Hannah went often to the house of the Lord, and as often as she went, she was provoked by her rival.

Hannah refused to eat and looked too sad, even though her husband tried to comfort her. One day, she was deeply distressed, and she wept bitterly and prayed to God for a son.

Hannah was making a vow and speaking in her heart—only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. The priest Eli watched and mistook her for a drunken woman. He rebuked her to withdraw from wine or strong drink.

She immediately responded humbly to the priest, saying she was speaking out of great anxiety and vexation. She explained that she was a woman troubled in spirit and had been pouring out her soul before the Lord.

Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you the petition that you have made to Him.” She returned home, and her face was no longer sad.

In due time, Hannah gave birth to a son and called him Samuel, saying, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”

Our helper and Hannah were both women of troubled spirits, desperately trying to put the pieces together and hold themselves up. But sadly, the constant harassment and mockery couldn’t let them hold it together.

There are people where their world may look like a celebration outside, but might be breaking apart inside. At least Hannah had a loving husband. Many times, we do not even have someone to share love or pain with. We might be left alone during such times of sadness.

To all who are vexed and grieving about something that is out of your control, I want to direct you to God’s mercy seat and encourage you to pour out your tears before Him. He does not judge you.

You may think, “How long?” The Bible says Hannah went year after year, and she wept as often as she was provoked and irritated and the Word of God brings encouragement—“Go in peace, and may God grant your petition.”

The peace of God will lift your countenance, and you will give birth to the answer to your prayer.

My mother and I were ignorant of the works of Jesus Christ back in those days, but today we are more than assured that He is a prayer-answering God. He is alive, and His Spirit gives comfort to anyone who seeks Him.

So, in your distress, need, and longing—seek the Lord. It is better to trust in the Lord than to seek man’s counsel.

Often, we are judged even in our distress. And a few of you who handle life’s challenges like a pro are also judged—because you don’t look unhappy in the way others expect you to. I tell you, keep it up! Continue to be lifted in the joy of the Lord.

Those who criticize your grief may not understand the depth of your pain, but if you draw near to God as David did, you will soon discover—every tear, every whisper, every cry is heard and answered by Him.

Come into the arms of the loving Father. He knows your name, He understands you, and He will walk with you through your pain and suffering. Your present suffering is nothing compared to the glory you will see soon.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

In my distress, I pour out my soul before You. Strengthen my heart, calm my spirit, and fill me with Your peace. Help me to trust that You hear my cry and will turn my sorrow into joy.

In Your precious name, I pray,

Amen.