"...and her face was no longer downcast."

One of the biggest wake-up calls I've had from scripture recently has been this: in the place of broken-heartedness, is God truly my comfort?

At the beginning of 1 Samuel, we see Hannah's oppression. She was one of two wives, and whilst it says she was the most loved, she was unable to have children. The other wife, Peninnah, would bully her.
 "...her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her until she wept and wouldn't eat.." (1Sam 1:7)
"In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. [She said] "I am a woman who is deeply troubled... I was pouring out my soul to the Lord, I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." (1Sam 1:10-16)

Hannah was broken-hearted over her lack - she faced bullying, provocation and comparison everyday. But she brought her pain and desire before the Lord and committed it to Him. She was persistent and fervent, praying to God directly from that place of suffering and presenting her heart before Him - exactly as it was.

She found comfort and relief in the presence of God, and the evidence of this is in the change in her behaviour afterwards - not only did she start eating again, but
her whole countenance and attitude changed.

"Her face was no longer downcast." (1Sam 1:18b)