I’ve seen the phrase “Pray like Hannah” written on T-shirts and cups. So, what does that mean? What can we learn about prayer from Hannah?
Hannah’s Story
Hannah’s story can be found in 1 Samuel 1-1 Samuel 2:11 and 1 Samuel 2:18-21.
Hannah was one of Elkanah’s two wives. Her husband loved her very much, but she had been unable to bear children. Thus, she was looked down upon because, in her culture, infertility was believed to be a sign of divine disfavor. To make matters worse, Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, provoked her grievously, adding to her shame for not being able to fulfill her primary role as a wife.
Hannah suffered silently, without retaliation, for years. Eventually, she went to the temple and poured her heart out before God. She prayed, asking God for a son. In return, she vowed to give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.
Because Hannah was weeping and praying silently, the priest, Eli, accused her of being drunk. But when she explained, Eli blessed her and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition” (verse 17).
Soon after, the Lord granted her wish and blessed her with a son, whom she named Samuel. So, Hannah kept her promise to God. When Samuel was weaned, she brought him to the temple to serve God. Because Hannah was faithful to God and her promise, God later blessed her with three more sons and two daughters.
How Can We Pray Like Hannah?
Hannah demonstrated four truths about prayer that we can put into practice.
- When you pray, God listens. “You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (Psalm 10:17, NIV).
- When you pray and believe, God works. His answers are worth waiting for. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24, NIV).
- When you pray with honest words and surrendered steps, God blesses you. “Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid” (Job 11:13-19, NIV).
- When you pray, God may even give you more than you prayed for. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV).
Summary
Like all of us, Hannah walked through difficult times. Yet, she was faithful and honorable in all her actions. She teaches us that dwelling on our problems doesn’t solve anything. We have to go to the only One who can bring us answers. So, when life gets us down, rather than overthinking and attempting to find our own solutions, we can pray like Hannah. Let’s pray about it as much as we think about it. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV).
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