Pray Every Dayনমুনা

She made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut.”

—1 Samuel 1:11

Hannah weeps this prayer. In a culture where childlessness suggests someone has been forsaken by God, her grief runs deep. When Eli the priest hears her prayer outside the tabernacle, he cannot make out her words and declares her drunk. But she responds, “Oh no, sir… I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD. Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow” (1 Samuel 1:15-16).

Eli tells her that her prayer has been granted, and she, who takes her vow to God seriously, dedicates her son, Samuel, to the Lord as she promised. This Samuel would become a prophet who would see the rise of the kingdom of Israel—all from the desperate prayer of a woman longing for motherhood.

Note to whom Hannah addresses her prayer: the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (also known as the Lord of Hosts, or Yahweh of Angels). She is calling on the might of God, the power only he possesses. She knows he commands legions of angels—and yet, as powerful as angelic beings are, they live in subjugation to the One greater than them.

Hannah’s prayer conveys honesty. She tells God what laments weigh on her heart, and she does so with such conviction and authenticity that Eli mistakes her for being inebriated.

Her prayer also indicates her dedication to the Lord. The gift she seeks from God, if granted, will be offered back in gratitude. She understands that everything, including the opening of a closed womb, comes from God, and any gift he bestows is a gift worth offering back. She lives her life both openhearted and openhanded, honestly sharing her grief, but willing to worship God in whatever answer he gives.

What a beautiful picture of the power and presence of prayer. When we pray, we tell God we are powerless, but he is powerful. And in the midst of that honest declaration, we experience his nearness. He both listens and intercedes. He carries our burdens. He walks with us in our conundrums. Hannah shows us that our most powerful God can also be our most compassionate ally.

Jesus, I choose today to cease sugarcoating my prayers. Instead, I want to be utterly honest, letting you know what perplexes me. I am powerless to solve my problems, but you are powerful. I need your presence as I face today and as I choose to follow you in this difficult world. Lord, I pray you would grant my request, and as you do, I choose to offer every gift you give me back to you as an offering of thanksgiving. Amen.