Have you ever felt discouraged because your prayer wasn’t answered? Maybe you’re in the middle of a not-very-fun situation right now. You’ve prayed, cried, and begged God to fix it. But nothing happened. Perhaps you wondered, “Is God really listening? Why hasn’t He done something?” Thousands of years ago, a woman named Hannah was discouraged. It seemed that God wasn’t answering her prayers either. Let’s take a look at her story to learn about prayer.
Here’s what Hannah teaches us about prayer.
When we pray, we should offer something to God.
We read Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel 1. In those days, polygamy was commonly practiced (though it was not God’s will). Hannah wasn’t the only wife to her husband Elkanah. He also had another wife named Peninnah, who had given birth to sons and daughters. Yet Hannah had no children.
She not only suffered from the stigma of barrenness, but she also had to put up with the cruel taunts of the other wife. After years of this pain, Hannah came to the end of herself.
When the family made their yearly visit to the temple, she made a decision.
Hannah walked into the temple, found a quiet place, and poured out her heart to God.
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
1 Samuel 1:10-11
Instead of simply asking God for what she wanted, Hannah made a vow. Instead of keeping a son for herself, she promised to give him back to God.
She recognized that every answered prayer is a gift from God. Her husband belonged to God. And any children she would have belonged to God. She was willing to give God something in return for answering her prayer.
Like Hannah, we should ask ourselves, “What can we give God?” Perhaps God wants us to give Him praise. Or maybe He wants us to serve Him in some specific way. We should be willing to use the gift He gives for His will, not ours. When we ask God for something, we should offer something to Him, as well.
We have a prayer-hearing, prayer-answering God.
After Hannah poured out her heart to God, she was confronted by the high priest Eli. He suspected she was drunk because she was praying, but no sound came out. She protested that she was not drunk, but had poured out her soul to the Lord. Eli believed her and said, “Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:17)
Shortly after returning home, God remembered Hannah. She conceived and gave birth to a son nine months later.
His name was called Samuel, which means, “God heard.”
And Hannah kept her vow to God. When he was just a toddler, Hannah brought him to the temple and gave him back to God. She told Eli,
“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:27-28)
Samuel would go on to be one of Israel’s most influential leaders. And he would anoint the first two kings of Israel. Little did Hannah know how God would answer her simple prayer!
Like Hannah, we should trust God to hear and answer our prayers in His good time.
What are you praying for?
Perhaps you’re praying for something you haven’t dared to whisper aloud. Or maybe your whole church knows what burden you’re carrying. God knows, too. And He is waiting for you to bring that burden to Him.
Lay it down at His feet. Pour out your heart as Hannah did. Ask Him to work on your behalf and do what only He can do. And then…wait for Him to answer.
He is the One who is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us….” (Ephesians 3:20).
Nothing is too hard for God. He delights to show His power and His grace to those who trust in Him.
I’m praying that God will give you the courage to pray boldly, friends! Because I know that, if you do, your life will never be the same.
More articles on prayer here:
6 Ways to Deepen Your Prayer Life
How to Stop Worrying about the Future
What a wonderful reminder! I think prayer is one of our most underused spiritual tools! Thank you for another challenging article, Claudine! God bless you! 💕
Amen, sister! Prayer makes such a difference in the lives of God’s children. Thank you for reading & commenting, dear friend! 💕
I really love how you bring out offering something to God through prayer! Often I am only concerned with how an answer could benefit me or relieve my suffering, so wow, that is convicting! And I LOVE what the name Samuel means. That simple phrase “God heard”…wow, so much comfort in that 🙂
Thank you for reading and commenting, Elizabeth! Amen, sister! It’s something I heard a preacher say and I have found it so helpful and true in my own life. God is so gracious to answer our prayers!
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