Hannah and The Fulfillment of Fervent Prayer
Up until the 6th grade, I attended private Catholic school, had memorized countless hymns, recitations and was very familiar with every prayer and ritual. The thing I wasn’t familiar with however, was the Bible.
In August of 1989, my mom, my sisters and I moved from Bolivia to southern California. The following summer, I gave my life to Christ, and attended my first church camp.
It was there, where I was introduced to Hannah.
My group leader Pam, was fascinated by her. Pam had been married for a very long time, and had been praying for a child for almost 8 years. Hannah was the biblical woman of influence in Pam’s life, and Hannah, was the first biblical woman of influence in my life. Her story was the first bible story I’d heard, aside from the story of creation, and of Christ’s birth.
Hannah and The Fulfillment of Fervent Prayer
Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, who was also married to Peninnah. The bible tells us that “Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none“. Scripture goes on to paint a very clear picture of her misery:
And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
1 Samuel 1:6-7 (NKJV)
Though Elkanah loved and favored Hannah over Peninnah, he did not understand her pain.
Then Elkanah her husband said to 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 (NKJV)
In her anguish and bitterness of soul, Hannah prayed to the Lord, and made a vow.
“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 (NKJV)
The Lord favorably answered her prayer, and gave her a son. In turn, she kept her vow, and dedicated her son Samuel to the Lord.
Hannah the Praying Biblical Woman of Influence
When Pam, my camp group leader first shared the story of Hannah with us, she did so with tears in her eyes. She read the above prayer (verse 11) several times, and though the prayer was beautiful, as was the rest of the story, it wasn’t as meaningful for us, as it was for her.
“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there. 1 Samuel 1:27-28 (NKJV)”
We discussed Hannah all that week. The more I got to know both Hannah and Pam, the more I understood why Hannah had been so influential. Two days before we headed out to church camp, Pam had found out she was expecting. Her eight-year-long prayer had been answered.
When Pam’s first child (Genesis) was born months later, prayer became my ministry at the age of 13.
I had been so moved by her influence over Pam, that all I could do was pray. Pray to one day have the strength and courage to keep a vow like Hannah’s.
Hannah the Trusting Biblical Woman of Influence
Faithful prayer aside, there is one more lesson, I’m learning from Hannah today. She vowed to dedicate her son to the Lord. The conditions of this vow, required her to raise the boy for a time, and after he was weaned, she was to allow Eli the priest to raise him.
For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 1:27-28 (NKJV)
In the same manner, The Lord has granted me six children, for whom I have prayed since conception. It is my deep desire that that all six, will one day live their lives in a manner worthy of His name. It is my desire that all will serve Him and that they may do the works of the Lord for the rest of their lives.
Like Hannah, however, I must raise them myself for a short while, and trust the Lord will do the rest. Like Hannah, I must point them and take them to the house of the Lord, and praise Him for the work He will do, even when things look bleak.
She co-hosts the Charlotte Mason Inspired Conferences, CMI Mother's School, as well as the Charlotte Mason Inspired Podcast writes about motherhood, home education, and organized living, at PurposefulMotherhood.com and owns ScarletDigital.io, a full-service creative agency, which provides design, management, branding and more.
- Hannah and The Fulfillment of Fervent Prayer - May 29, 2018
- What I’m Still Learning From Ruth’s Story - May 16, 2018
This is a wonderful story, and Peninah was more than rude on occasion, she really tormented her.
What a powerful example we can all learn from in the life of Hannah! Not just her example of prayer, but in the willingness to release her son to God’s care and keeping. It can be such a strong tendency in most of us to be in control instead of releasing our children when and how it’s biblically appropriate.
I am so blessed to be your neighbor over at #Sittingamongfriends this week. I love the story of Hannah. Throughout the years as my children were growing, the Lord used her story many times to encourage me to surrender my children over to God’s care. Thanks for this precious reminder tonight. Even though they are all adults, there is still a place for surrendering them to Him!
I was in Israel the last two weeks and believe to have stood where Hannah prayed in Shiloh.
Reading your post today is confirmation of what the Holy Spirit spoke to me while praying where she prayed.
I love to see how the Lord uses our circumstances to show us what He wants us to do next. Always where you least expect it.
As someone in the midst of infertility, Hannah’s prayer is so important to me. Thank you for sharing these beautiful words of faith.
Saying a prayer for you now Bailey.
What a lovely post! I LOVE the story of Hannah! You have written this so beautifully! 😘💕
Than you Donna! It’s become one of my favorites.
This is so beautiful! I too have prayed for both of my children and am now praying for a third which is proving to be difficult. I love Pam’s story and yours. I give thanks each and every day for my 2 boys and my husband and hope my boys grow up to serve the Lord as well.
Thank you!
My first two kids cane pretty easily but we prayed very hard for our third. So much so that the Lord blessed us with a total of six.
I think of Pam every time I want to give up. Thank you for reading 💕