Hannah: For This Child I Prayed

Waiting is difficult, especially when waiting for something our hearts deeply desire. It isn’t for the faint of heart nor is waiting for those who give up easily.

1 Samuel 1:2 reads,¨and he had two wives; the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.¨

Verse four continues, “And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: but unto Hannah he gave a wealthy portion: for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.

And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.¨ 

Peninnah seems like quite the handful, doesn’t she? What an antagonizer! Constantly picking and taunting and provoking Hannah to tears, all because she could have children and Hannah could not. But Hannah had an encourager in her life! 

Then said Elkanah, her husband, to her, ¨Hannah, why weepest thou? And why eatest thou not? And why is thy heart grieved? Am I not better to thee than ten sons?¨

What a loving husband! What a thing to say! No children but I love you anyway! (I’m paraphrasing of course.)

However, Hannah had to wait on God for timing which maybe didn’t line up with her own, but proved to be better. We hear the phrase, ¨God’s timing is always perfect¨ all the time in the Christian community. So much so that it can seem flippant.

Maybe you’ve heard it or have used the phrase yourself. Perhaps you’ve stared at the clock or watched the years pass, waiting for your heart´s desire. Maybe there has yet to be fruit born to the many hours you’ve spent on your knees. 

I have been there. Actually, I am a living example as I write this article. The longer God makes you wait, the more you might begin to question if He really hears you or if He even cares about the petitions of your heart. 

God does care, and He does hear you. Sometimes, He makes us wait on purpose so that we can learn that He alone is the answer to every longing and that He alone is sufficient if we’d only let Him. God heard Hannah’s cries too.

Scripture does not tell us how long Hannah needed to wait, but we do know that God did eventually answer.

1 Samuel 1:20 reads “Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

Praise be to Him for answered prayer! What a beautiful testimony Hannah had! Chapter 2 of 1 Samuel vs 1 says ¨And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.¨

Hannah devotes a good portion of the second chapter in second Samuel simply for praising the Lord. Thanking Him for answered prayer, Hannah chose not to forget God. We can apply her thanksgiving, her dilemma, and her attitude during the waiting to our own lives! What is our attitude when God walks us through detours, down a seemingly endless winding road?

We must constantly check the posture of our hearts as we trust the Lord to intervene on our behalf. Sure, the wait can beat us down, crush us, and discourage us if we believe the false whispers of the enemy. 

Truth be told, my own waiting journey has been far from perfect. It has been nearly two years of endless pruning and delays. If I had written this article weeks ago, I would have told you I’d given up, and walked away. I would have told you that I wasn’t sure of God’s goodness in the valley of wait.

But God. He is in the business of changing heart attitudes. He is a restorer of faith. He renews our strength and refreshes our souls in the desert places.

Isaiah 40:30-31 says, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

As we wait for His timing, He strengthens us, He lifts us up, He carries us. He does not forget His own. I am thankful in the midst of this season that God chooses not to forget me, when I am most tempted to run away or give up. The road is long, but He walks beside me. He is with you too.

Waiting seasons won’t last forever as long as we remember to keep our focus on Christ during the duration of the season! The longer we accumulate bad attitudes during every detour the longer God might make us walk through the desert.

Hannah kept a good attitude while she waited for God to answer. She might have cried for a season, but later we learn that her tears turned to joy! Can we honestly say that our attitudes are joyful even after God answers our prayers?

Or are we back to the same grumbling, rude behaviors that we were supposed to get rid of while God prepared us for the answer to prayer that we so eagerly desired? While you wait on God choose to get rid of the stubborn attitudes, rid yourself of the rudeness and negative self talk. Obey your authorities. Prepare for what you’re praying for!

 “And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

And lastly, like Hannah’s prayer above, never forget to praise Him for what He’s given you, even if He chooses not to give you what your heart desires most, He is worthy to be praised always!” 1 samuel 2:1-10

Lord, help us to remember Hannah’s good attitude while we wait patiently for you to act. We know you are working diligently behind the scenes even though it doesn’t always look that way. We know that you are a good  Father that knows what’s best for us even when we grow weary of waiting. Your ways are not our ways, and your timing is not ours, it’s better than that! Help us to remain steadfast and cheerful, and grow in the knowledge of You each day, we love you Lord, Amen.