The woman who prayed

Having battled with infertility for many years, I understand what it is to have none, and I also understand what it is to have and then lose. From the outside, we show smiles and joy but in the silence of the night, in the loneliness of our bathrooms, we have cried our hearts out. Cried out in despair, in hope, in longing to the Lord. Miscarriage, barrenness, stillbirths, losing adult children – pains a woman goes through. Infertility is particularly hard. The cross of infertility weighs heavy especially when one can see the bubbly children of others and particularly hard to wonder why we aren’t blessed.

Hannah was one such woman, childless but she had to live with the second wife of her husband and his children. I believe she must have watched the children grow – not just one child but children and wondered when Lord, or why Lord. She wasn’t only childless but was also discriminated against because of it. Her husband Elkanah would present a sacrifice to the Lord and would come home to give Hannah just one choice portion of the meat while Peninah – his other wife received more. To make matters worse, Peninah would taunt her and make fun of her for being barren. Hannah endured this year after year, and during festival time, it would get so bad for her that she would refuse to eat. Through all of this, Hannah endured it all silently. She didn’t retaliate or complain. She would visit the temple every year, pray, and pour out her heart to God, but her prayers weren’t answered. (cf. 1 Sam 1:1-8). She had a husband who loved her yet having a child was not and never in their control. Just like our situations, no matter how desperate we are, we can’t solve all our problems. 

During the festival one year, Hannah was so distressed that she wept bitterly and prayed to the Lord. She made a vow, “O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy maidservant, and remember me, and not forget thy maidservant, but wilt give to thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head,” (1 Sam 1:11).  Hannah trusted God would be able to work in her life. He was the only one who could act on her prayer. As Hannah poured out her heart to the Lord, she was observed by the high priest Eli who thought she was drunk since her lips were moving but he couldn’t hear her voice. When Eli questions her, Hannah identifies herself as a troubled woman who has poured out her anguish to God and she is blessed by Eli.

Then Hannah was no longer sad. She worshipped the Lord and went back home with faith that God would work in her life. Surely enough, Hannah was blessed with a son, and she named him Samuel. She cares for her son till he is old enough and weaned.  When the time comes, she takes her son along with a sacrifice to the Lord of a three-year-old bull, flour, and wine. We are not told of Hannah’s emotions at this point, but any mother would agree on how incredibly heart-wrenching this must have felt. Samuel may have been around just 3 years of age at that time. But she didn’t waver. She didn’t run away and tell God it was too difficult to let go. She knew she had to let him go; and place him securely in God’s loving care. And she was obedient and faithful to her word. She offers Samuel in the service of the Lord. “As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life, he will be given over to the Lord,” (1 Samuel 1:24-28)

Hannah makes a beautiful song of praise to God. A song that highlights the wonderful works of the Lord giving him praise and honor. The scripture goes on to tell us that Samuel’s mother would visit him every year and gift him a robe. Elkanah and Hannah are blessed by Eli who prophesies that she will have other children because she vowed to God. Indeed, Hannah is blessed with three more sons and two daughters. The woman who had none is blessed to be a woman of plenty. 

Hannah’s image as a praying woman is now secure: she is recognized as the mother of Samuel–who becomes a prophet, judge, and king-maker. Hannah knew there was great power in prayer, purpose in the waiting, and a blessing in the answer to her longings. God will never allow our pain and brokenness to have the final say in our lives. He will always give more and bless abundantly, even amid our most difficult seasons. 

Lessons from Hannah

• 1 Thes 6:18, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Whatever the situation, rely on prayer. There is power in prayer. It can move mountains.
• Patience is the key to success. Hannaah prayed but also waited. God blessed her with a son.