Hannah’s prayer   

We need to know how to follow Jesus with confidence during the difficult times. 

I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s not enough to simply be told, “Have faith in God”. That’s a great theory, but how do I live it out when I’m in a difficult position?

That’s why we’re looking at this next part of Hannah’s story. It’s all about the ‘how’. We’ve heard about her desperate struggle; now let’s take a look at how she deals with it:

After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest… said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.”… Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” (1 Samuel 1:9, 14–15, 17)

As we read about Hannah further, we discover that she is a good and godly woman. She honoured God in every way, and yet this affliction struck her life. And there was not a thing that she could do about it.

Well, perhaps there was one thing, and she was doing it right now. She was pouring it all out to God. She was praying! 

Prayer seems like a cop-out to some, and yet the Bible teaches us that prayer yields powerful results. And when Hannah engages in heartfelt, powerful prayer, she reaps the benefit. She receives peace from God, right there at the end of 1 Samuel 1 verse 18:

Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer. 

That’s what’s supposed to happen, because Jesus promised:

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28, 30)

My friend, if you’re looking for the ‘how’ – how to follow Jesus with confidence – you’ve just discovered the answer, through Hannah, through Jesus’ words, through God’s Word. 

The answer is heartfelt prayer. The answer is reading and meditating on God’s Word. Can it really be that simple? Actually, yes it can. It is!

LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS 

• Have you ever been going through difficult times and had well-meaning friends tell you simply to ‘have faith in God’? What was your reaction?
• When you’re going through tough times, do you take your problems to God in prayer with passion and persistence, as Hannah did? Or do you hold onto the anxiety and stress of trying to solve them yourself?
• Spend some time with God, asking Him to reveal to you more about how you can pray to Him specifically and meaningfully about the troubles you face. Meditate on 1 John 5:14–15, Philippians 4:6–7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 as a starting point.
• What actions can you take today, and in the days to come, to be more intentional, more strategic, and more passionate in your prayer life?