Year after year, Hannah would go to the temple and pray that God would provide her with a son. Hannah was one of the wives of Elkanah that could not bear a child because God had closed her womb (1 Samuel 1:6). It's very difficult to understand that God would cause Hannah not to have a baby, especially when she really wanted to have a son. What would we feel if we were Hannah? If we are single and have been waiting for a long time for God to provide us with a spouse, and nothing is happening. How would we feel about God? Or if we have been waiting for God's provision, healing, etc., and we have been waiting, would we feel God has forgotten our situations or does not care about us? What would we do? Do we doubt His care and love? Do we get angry at God? Do we lose our faith? How would we feel when God does not provide us with what we want? These questions are too difficult to answer for some of us.
Hannah never gave up praying to God, but "in her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, 'LORD Almighty, if you will only look on 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, and no razor will ever be used on his head.'" (1 Samuel 1:10-11). Hannah never stopped believing in God. She never gave up praying. She kept on going to the throne of God, offering her anguish and prayer to God. Eventually, God granted her prayer request and opened her womb, and she had a son and named him Samuel.
Let us not stop believing in the Lord. Let us keep on praying for our needs and wants. I believe that Hannah's alone in prayer became her comfort and hope. In God's timing, God answered her prayer. Let our time with the Lord become our comfort in waiting for God to grant our prayers.
Ask yourself these questions: What should my response be when I wait for a long time for God to grant my prayer requests? Am I willing to keep on persevering in my prayers? How should I deal with my doubt and frustration?
Write down all the worries you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, you hear all my prayer requests and have seen my anguish, tears, and heart condition. Please help my unbelief and continue to give me the strength and the courage to trust you even when I am tired of waiting for you to grant my prayer request. I believe that you are the God of possibilities and that you are in control of everything. I still believe that you can work all things together for the good of those that love you (Romans 8:28). Please have mercy on me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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