Praying Through The Pain: Hannah

*I will not let go of you til you bless me and transform my heart*
Lost sheep

I owe a debt of gratitude to writer of 1 Samuel 1. I thank you for keeping it real and exact. This episode takes us through what indeed must have been an excruciating personal, heartbreaking journal in infertility, bareness and relationship chaos. Hannah here is barren.

Most of us can’t tolerate an irritating co wife, but Hannah does and relates with Peninah. We may fail to co-exist with other women who sharpen their blessings and hurl them to us and try to extract envy out of us.

I am not saying it the wrong way or in bad faith, but most “Peninnahs” In this world their identity rests on acquisitions, children, money, etc. Getting more stuff makes them feel on top of the world.

Hannah had a husband Eli who adored her(Elkanah). He set the tense tone between Hannah and Peninah by playing favorites. In this situation Elkanah showed Hannah that she is still important to him.

Do you hate it when in the middle of legitimate pain someone tries to quell it and stroke their own ego at the same time?

What was Hannah’s response? This is what I appreciate about God’s word;it’s honest. She weeps bitterly, she doesn’t eat(these seem to be symptoms of depression).

But one day in the middle of a spiritual hailstorm, Hannah gets up and heads to the temple, temporarily blinded with tears, bleary-eyed to pour out her prayer and tears God.

Eli the priest observes her as she’s sobbing and crying out to God and he completely fails to understand her.

This part saddens me and breaks my heart. We are prone to mis judging we are called to minister to because they passionately and emotionally respond to their situations as they seek God.

Hannah prays with reference to the law. This vividly displays her as an example of honesty, informed faith and vulnerable hope in prayer. Her words are indeed powerful (1Samuel 2: 1-10).

God finally remembered Hannah. Samuel is born and he serves as a light of prophecy and truth to the nation of Israel. He later annoints God-chosen King David.