Hannah's Prayer

Hannah had no children. 1 Samuel 1:10-18 records the prayer of this woman who was loved by her husband but provoked beyond endurance by his other wife.

“In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life…

As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."

"Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."

Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. ”

Hannah’s condition reminds me of times, when the absence of a physically-touchable God has made me just wonder if there is a God and feel doubtful about praying. But what a beautiful thing it is when we ask God to remove all doubt and when He does!
We all may understand what it was for Hannah to have prayed without words from her mouth and yet her heart pouring out words. She was bitter in her soul. How much God knew her condition and how honest she could be with God! She could go as she was, bitter in soul and broken in spirit and pour out her soul to the God who loves her.

And the God He is, Perfect and Passionate about us, “is near to those who call on Him” was close beside her. We can be so surely sure about this when we pray to the God of the Universe, Jehovah-maker of heaven, earth and you and me and everything visible and invisible!
Hannah’s prayer was heard and answered. It so encourages me to pray to the Unseen God with the brokenness of heart in spite of not knowing what God is doing on my behalf at that very point of time. And like Hannah, I can go forward with my face no longer downcast and my heart at rest in Him.