Hannah

A Longing Mother

READ 1 Samuel 1–2

Loneliness is one of the most universal human experiences. It comes when we lack connection and close relationships, often during seasons of change like a move to a new community. Loneliness also comes when we feel misunderstood by those around us. Even with family or friends nearby, when no one understands what we’re going through, it can be incredibly isolating. This is especially true during seasons of grief. Hannah experienced this kind of isolating sadness in 1 Samuel 1.

Hannah was married to Elkanah, who also had another wife named Peninnah. Peninnah’s name means “pearl” or “precious stone,” and she certainly thought she was a gem. After all, she was able to produce offspring for Elkanah while Hannah could not. Yet Peninnah knew Elkanah loved Hannah more. Each year when they went to worship God at Shiloh, Elkanah gave Hannah a double portion of food compared to what he gave Peninnah. Bitter with jealousy, Peninnah took to goading Hannah with harsh words until she broke down weeping and refused to eat.

Elkanah tried to comfort Hannah, and while he meant well, we can conclude that he was rather tone-deaf to her grief: “Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (v. 8). Not exactly helpful!

In her loneliness and grief, Hannah went to pray. Eli the priest saw her lips moving but heard no sound, and he assumed she’d been drinking too much. Even the spiritual leader in Hannah’s life was blind to her grief!

Mistreated by Peninnah, misunderstood by Elkanah, accused of drunkenness by Eli, Hannah had nowhere to turn but to God. She poured out her heart in prayer.

Like the psalms of lament, Hannah laid out her misery before God. She didn’t hide the rawness of her pain. Hannah’s name means “grace,” and her story certainly moves from despair to grace. God granted her a son, Samuel, who went on to become one of Israel’s great leaders. In joy and gratitude, Hannah burst into a second prayer, the beautiful prayer of 1 Samuel 2:1–10. This prayer proclaims God’s gracious nature of looking mercifully upon the lowly and raising up the downtrodden. Hannah’s prayer is a powerful statement of faith and praise, and it is echoed by Mary’s song in Luke 1:46–55. Both women praised God for his loving care toward the weak and oppressed.

Hannah is an exemplar of prayer, and her two prayers are like two sides of the coin in our relationship with God. Each one of us will go through times of despair and grief. These seasons in life can leave us feeling lonely and misunderstood by those closest to us, even our own family members. Hannah showed us how to turn to God in these moments. Her prayer is a master class on how to approach God. In times of sorrow, we can be honest and open with him. We can remember to “cast all [our] anxiety on him because he cares for [us]” (1 Peter 5:7). When life is wrought with anguish, we can bring that pain to God knowing he is always ready to hear us when we pray. God honors the prayers of his children (James 5:16). We don’t need to hide our grief and pain from God.

Likewise, in times of joy—like when Hannah welcomed her son—we should not forget to praise God for his amazing mercy and love. The Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). Each blessing we experience is another opportunity to praise God and give testimony of his faithfulness to others.

Prayer is one of the most important faith practices for Christians. When you struggle to know what to pray, let the Bible guide you. What is your prayer life like? What distractions or behaviors keep it from flourishing? In what seasons has prayer been a vibrant part of your faith? Like any relationship, communication is key to a strong relationship with God, in which we not only bring our own needs to God but also patiently and contemplatively listen for his voice. God meets us through prayer. That was true for Hannah, and it’s still true for God’s faithful children today.