Hannah: Believing

“So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked for him from the Lord’ ” (1 Samuel 1:20). (Emphasis added.)

I love Hannah’s words, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord!”  Indeed, by her admission, Hannah made a hope-filled request that God would prevail on her behalf, open her barren womb, and give her a son. And at the appointed time, God did it! 

Since God responded to her request, we have two things to consider concerning prayer. First, what have you asked of the Lord? And next, when help, healing, provision, encouragement, and even deeper faith were needed, did you, like Hannah, tap into God’s heart? Those are not insignificant questions, but wholly relevant as we consider that divine help is only a prayer away and God is always ready to respond.

Since Hannah had been barren for years, we must consider what she asked and how she asked it. Let me begin by stating the obvious: what we believe about God governs our prayers.  What did Hannah believe? In God, His Word, and His unique ability (and willingness) to open the very womb He had closed and fill it with a son, so she could offer him back to God. (See 1 Samuel 1:5.) But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s look at who prays and its purpose. 

Years ago, a confessed nonbeliever asked that I make a request to God on his behalf. I was curious, of course, because that’s an oxymoron. It seemed strange that he would seek relief from a previously rejected, nonexistent God and through a surrogate no less - me! When I inquired, he responded, “I know that you pray and that God answers your prayers!” Look at that incredible statement; it has faith in it! So, pray on, I did! And primarily for his salvation. To this day, I pray for him. Countless times, I have asked God’s Spirit to awaken his cold dead heart to the miracle, transforming, life-saving hope we have in Jesus. I’m asking God to “grace” him with the faith to believe. Why? Because it’s what’s needed.

As you recall, grace is God’s unearned, unmerited favor and the spiritual means by which we come to faith. So then, even the faith to believe, which, as Hebrews 11:1 says, is “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen,” is a gift and a divine work of grace from God. Do I believe he will come to faith? Most certainly, I do! Since my request, like Hannah’s, aligns with God’s heart and scripture, I am confidently persuaded that God will save him and bring divine relief to his unknowingly weary soul. When? When it pleases God and coincides with His plan and purposes. Lest we forget, God desires that no man perish. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”  (2 Peter 3:9). (Emphasis added.)

Don’t miss the kingdom truth in these words. What we believe about God and Jesus affects us and others and brings heaven down - as in “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When Hannah asked for Samuel, it brought heaven down! How so? In the future, Samuel would be one of Israel’s greatest high priests. He would become God’s agent and serve Him as faithfully as possible throughout his life. But watch this: Although Hannah had prayed many times for a son, this prayer was different. Note that Hannah hadn’t changed, but the heart of her prayer had. 

Initially, she wanted a son because all Jews do! She wanted one to bless Elkanah and fill their home with joy and laughter, and because motherhood was in her! So too, Hannah wanted the rumors, ridicule, and speculation concerning her barrenness and any unconfessed, habitual sin to end. Indeed, she wanted Peninnah silenced! Yes, Hannah wanted to shut the mouth of the enemy. So although conceiving and birthing a son was the desire of her heart and an honorable request, something more was needed. What was it? God’s divine purpose, the corresponding eternal consequences, and alignment with God’s plan for Israel.  When Hannah recalled God’s original plan to consecrate firstborn sons to Him and aligned herself with it, all the mercies of heaven came down, and Hannah was changed. But that’s not all. With this prayer, more was changed than you might imagine, so let’s take a look.

On that day at Shiloh, her prayer was unique, because it invited God’s plan to fill her from the womb for His purposes, not her own. Although it would satisfy her longing, at its core, this prayer was selfless. She availed herself and offered her treasure back to God as His holy agent for life. Uniquely, this aligned Hannah’s urgent need and desire with God’s plan. Sure, she’d be blessed in the process, but God answered her prayer because Hannah saw the big picture. Her unborn son already belonged to God, as all children do. Her request was not only scriptural, it was fitting, proper, and prudent. It touched the tender heart of God. Because that’s so significant, let’s consider what Hannah believed in prayer.

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, ‘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 1:10-11). (Emphasis added.)

Indeed, God delights in answering our prayers. I wonder, though, if some of our requests are so selfish and unnecessary that they are mercifully overlooked, allowing us time to ponder the selfish nature of our request against the selfless nature of Christ’s indwelling Spirit who resides in us. After all, His Spirit is our constant companion and new point of reference. Yes, God will give us the desires of our hearts, but He desires that our hearts align with Him and His Word.

What’s the takeaway?  When we pray, perhaps we should consider what we are asking and why. James said, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss…” (James 4:3). (Emphasis added.) In other words, you are mistaken if you ask purely for selfish motives or desires. More than likely, that answer may never come. As scholar and theologian, Dr. Kurt A. Richardson, opined: “Prayer that is consistent with true faith will not make selfish requests.” Wow, what a word for us all! 

Prayer: Mighty and gracious Lord, guide our prayers. Trusting that You will supply all our needs, we ask that You align our prayer with Your plan and purposes. Jesus, give us selfless hearts which place the needs and desires of others before our own. In short, give us a kingdom vision, kingdom focus, and kingdom prayers!! Thank you, Lord! Amen and amen.