With a crushed, defeated, and broken heart, Hannah trudged to the tabernacle, thoughts swarming and vision blurring over from her hot tears. She wanted a son. Why hadn’t God given her a son?
The harsh words of Peninnah, Hannah’s husband’s other wife, still echoed in her head, telling her that she was worthless without children.
The tabernacle now in sight, she straightened her shoulders. Every year, the family traveled to this town to worship God at the tabernacle. Every year, she prayed for a son. And every year, He had held back.
Fresh tears sprung to her eyes, and she dropped to her knees, pouring out her heart to Yahweh. She couldn’t even say the words of her prayer.
Maybe this year, things could be different.
She finally vowed that she would give her future son to the service of the Lord. It was a dangerous vow. One that might cost her heartbreak.
“How long will you be drunk?” a nearby voice thundered. “Put your wine away from you!” (1 Samuel 1:14)
Hannah lifted her head. The priest’s eyes narrowed at her. She swallowed hard. She had promised God she would give her son to this man, so the priest could raise him to be a living sacrifice. Still finding it hard to speak, she rushed to explain herself. She wasn’t drunk; she was praying (1 Samuel 1:15–16).
Slowly, ever so slowly, the priest’s expression softened. “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” (1 Samuel 1:17)
She rose, thanked the priest, and left the tabernacle, her heart singing. She ate her first meal, likely in days. Peninnah smirked at her as she paraded past with her children, but Hannah didn’t care.
For the first time, she didn’t care.
Because, through His priest, God had granted her a son of her own—a boy she would name Samuel.
Praying with Everything She Had
Hannah didn’t hold back when talking to God. She didn’t polish her prayer to perfection. She didn’t care about what anyone else in the tabernacle thought about her. It was her and God.
Do you pray like that?
Giving Back What Was Never Hers
Houses, cars, careers, popularity, skills, and fashion. What do all these things have in common? They were never ours to keep (Luke 12:16–21). Rather, they’re tools we can use to glorify God, reach the lost, and change ourselves.
It must have been impossibly difficult for Hannah to send away her only son. The son she had prayed for with everything in her. But when the time came, she did.
Rejoicing When Good Happens
Hannah waited until the right time to bring her long-awaited son to the tabernacle. She didn’t begrudge her vow. Instead, she worshiped God (1 Samuel 2:1–10).
God used Samuel in significant ways. The boy became a powerful prophet and delivered God’s messages to Israel. He anointed Saul and David as future kings.
Hannah went on to raise five more kids and visited Samuel yearly, always with a new gift.
Everything was because she prayed, didn’t lose faith, kept her vows, and refused to stop hoping even when the days seemed bleak.
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