1/18 Genesis 16:11

¹¹ And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction.

Sarai was getting up in years and Abram had no heirs. She decided she would have a child through her Egyptian servant Hagar. It was a common way of dealing with infertility. Abram agreed and Hagar became pregnant. But as could be expected, she then felt her status in the family had changed. Sarai couldn't take that and tried to put Hagar in her place by being harsh with her. Hagar fled, but the Angel of the LORD told her to return to Sarai and submit to her. He told her she was pregnant with a boy and to name him "God hears", because God heard her agony.

The Bible tells it like it is. In this account, everyone was in the wrong. Abram let Sarai lead him into trusting their ability instead of relying on God to bring about the promise. Then she insisted on the right to abuse Hagar. Hagar was caught in the middle, and she, too, did not trust God to resolve the problems.

The LORD'S heart is with the abused and grieving. He cared for the slave. He comforted her with promises and guided her back to where she needed to be. The time would come for her to leave with her son, but that would be later.

Whatever your status in life, God knows your afflictions. He is the God that hears the heart of every man. That does not mean that He simply is aware of what you are enduring, but that He feels for you and accepts your prayers. He will give grace to endure and will change the circumstances in His perfect time. Don't make the mistake these heroes of the faith did by trusting in yourself. Look to God. Trust in Him. Wait for His leading. He hears!

Consider: By trying to resolve our troubles on our own, we often compound them. Know that the LORD hears. He will comfort and direct us. His timing is always best.