"Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord." 1 Samuel 1:15 (NIV)
Have you ever prayed for something so desperately that you felt it deep in your soul?
Maybe it was for a child or a dream job. What about in times of great financial distress or marital concerns? Perhaps it was a plea for someone's salvation, forgiveness, or mercy in times of need?
For me, it's been nearly all of the above. I've prayed on hands and knees, waiting for answers I've implored thousands of times. Tears often mark the pages of my journal as I "pour out my heart to the Lord." But you know what? I think 1 Samuel 1 shows us that that's the exact posture God desires of our hearts.
In this chapter, Elkanah has two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Every year, they would go to Shiloh to worship and give sacrifices to the Lord at the Tabernacle (vs.3). But because Hannah was unable to have children, Peninnah would taunt and make fun of her (vs.6). It was such an exhausting experience for Hannah that her weeping greatly disturbed her husband (vs.8).
Can you imagine the pain? The torment? Confusion and shame? The ridicule she experienced day after day?
And yet, when Hannah's grief was at its highest point, she mustered all the strength and courage she had and went to pray at the very temple where Peninnah would taunt her. I imagine she walked into that place with her head hung low and her eyes teary. Verse 10 tells us: "Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord" (NLT).
The beauty of this story, however, is that Hannah didn't allow the bitterness in her heart to stay and eat up her soul. Not only did she pour out her feelings to the Lord, but she chose to make a vow to Him: "And she made this vow: 'O Lord of Heaven's Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut" (vs.11).
Hannah didn't have to make that vow, but she did. She chose to pray about the thing that mattered most to her and surrender it to the Lord's will, no matter what. Isn't that a lesson for us all?
From the outside, Eli saw Hannah praying and thought she was drunk (vs.12-14). For her mouth was moving, but no words were coming out. Have you ever felt that way? Too distraught to put your anguish into words?
And yet, Hannah notes: "'Oh no, sir!' she replied. 'I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow'" (1 Samuel 1:15-16, NLT).
In a radical turn of events, Eli blesses Hannah (vs.17), and she returns home with joy (vs.18). Before her prayers are answered, she places confidence in who God is and what He's promised to those who follow Him. After praying until her heart was empty, Hannah had a renewed confidence that God would answer her prayers. Perhaps, we, too, are encouraged to do the same.
Scripture tells us that in due time (vs.20), Hannah was remembered by the Lord and gave birth to a son. We don't know the length of that time, but we do know that God heard her pleas and was faithful. He hears our pleas and is still faithful today, no matter the circumstances we face. God was faithful to Hannah, and she was faithful to Him.
Hannah nurses Samuel until he's weaned, but then she gives him to the Lord (vs.28) and worships God. She praises the Lord not just for her baby boy, but for the strength of her Lord (1 Samuel 2:1). She praises the God who gives and takes away.
Imagine receiving the very thing you prayed for. Now, imagine giving it back to the Lord. I can't fathom how hard that would be. Hannah prayed for a son and was finally given one, but she gave him to God to serve Him forever.
Today, we dedicate our children to the Lord, but this would've looked very different back then. Verse 11 tells us, "Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest" (1 Samuel 2:11, NLT). And verse 20 furthers this claim: "Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, 'May the Lord give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the Lord'" (1 Samuel 2:20, NLT).
All throughout this story, Hannah has open hands to give and receive. Down to the very thing she prayed to God for forever, she gave it back to Him—willingly.
Friends, my challenge to you (and myself) is to adopt this perspective of Hannah. Are you willing to pray with your whole heart? Are you ready and able to give what you receive back to the One who gifted it to you in the first place? It's a challenge many of us may wrestle with, but, in the end, it will produce the greatest and richest fruit. What we pour out to the Lord in obedience is never wasted.
Let's pray:
Dear God, Like Hannah, you see the intricacies of our hearts. You see our joys and sorrows. You see the things we pray for and the things we never receive. If we're feeling discouraged today, Lord, please remind us that you see us and hear our pleas. Encourage us that you answer prayers in due time, but in the meantime, you desire us to pour out our hearts to you. Help us to pray bold prayers that give our hearts over to you in full surrender. We praise, thank, and love you, Lord. Amen.
Agape, Amber
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Boonyachoat
Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.
In our conversation, we explore:
✨ How to hold space for yourself and others in difficult seasons
✨ The power of compassionate words when life feels overwhelming
✨ Practical ways to embrace healing and take one more step forward
If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Thursday, 22 May 2025.
SHARE
