God draws near to the brokenhearted—and He often answers the prayers we can barely speak. Dr. Michael Youssef looks at Hannah’s anguished, silent prayer to show how God turns deep sorrow into life-changing purpose.
In 1 Samuel 1, we meet Hannah—whose name means “favored,” even though her heart felt anything but favored. Crushed by grief and unable to conceive, Hannah pours out a prayer so raw that Scripture says she prayed “in deep anguish… weeping bitterly” (1 Samuel 1:10). And from this prayer of brokenness, God would raise up a man who would shape history—Samuel, who would anoint the king in the lineage of the coming Savior.
In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef highlights several powerful lessons from Hannah’s prayer:
If you’re carrying heartbreak, unanswered longing, or grief too heavy for words, this devotional is a reminder that God hears “groaning too deep for words”—and He delights to meet you in weakness with His faithful love.
Prayer: Thank You that You are close to the brokenhearted. I bring my brokenness to You today, knowing that in You alone am I made whole. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Scripture Focus: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
This devotional is adapted from Life-Changing Prayers by Michael Youssef © 2018 (Baker Books), used by permission.
Learn more in Dr. Youssef’s sermon Life-Changing Prayers, Part 5: LISTEN NOW