Read 1 Samuel 1

A Godly Prayer

Are you ever mistreated by the people around you? Have you prayed to God about it?

Do you find yourself lacking something? Feel inadequate or incomplete? Have you prayed to God about it?

Hannah found herself the target of mockery at the hands of Peninnah, her husband Elkanah’s other wife. Peninnah “provoked her severely” (1 Samuel 1:6) and caused Hannah much grief. The reason for Peninnah’s ridicule was Hannah’s physical inability to bear children. Elkanah attempted to console her. “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8).

It was no use. Women were expected to bear children and one who could not was often seen as cursed by God. Thus Hannah prayed, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head” (1 Samuel 1:11).

Hannah pleaded earnestly with God, and God heard her and answered her prayer in the affirmative. This godly woman not only believed that God could answer her prayer, she was confident that He would answer her prayer! She was so sure, in fact, that she vowed to dedicate the life of her son to the Lord’s service.

What a marvelous example for God’s children today. Like Hannah, we should turn to the Lord when we are faced with difficulties. Too many run from God when they face trials.

Like Hannah, we must believe in the power of prayer. As Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

Like Hannah, let us commit to keep the promises to the Lord. We should not bargain with Him, saying, “If you do this, I will be faithful.” Rather, we should commit to keeping His commands because we love Him and He loves us—in fact, He loved us so much that He died for us!