Praying Through Pain
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE: August 20, 2023
Pouring Out Through Prayer Series (Message #1)
Rev. Jason Noh
Opening: God’s children use pain as the channel to approach God.
1. PRAYER AS SHIFTING OUR FOCUS FROM PROBLEM TO GOD.
“He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.” (v.2)
“But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her.” (v.5a)
“So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.” (v.7)
“The Lord had closed the womb” (v.5b)
2. PRAYER AS COMMUNICATING TO GOD THROUGH PAIN.
“She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” (v.10)
3. PRAYER AS STRENGTHENING OUR SPIRITUAL MUSCLE.
Why zebras don’t get ulcers? (Robert Sapolsky, Stanford University)
“And she said, ‘Let your servant find favor in your eyes.’ Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” (v.18)
Closing: God turns pain into blessing through prayer.