Life today can be full of stress, uncertainty, and distraction. For many Christians, this means that prayer—which should be top of our list—often ends up being our last resort.
If that’s you and you want to change, then consider with me the book of 1 Samuel and the story of Hannah. This remarkable woman of faith has wonderful things to teach us about prevailing in prayer!
The first thing to know about Hannah is that she faced an overwhelming problem.
The text simply states, “Hannah had no children” (1 Samuel 1:2). But in Hannah’s time and culture, this was a massive deal. To be childless was more than a personal source of pain. It was a disgrace… to the woman herself, to her husband, and to her people.
To rub salt into her already-painful wounds, Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, didn’t understand her sorrow. And his second wife, Peninnah, taunted and provoked Hannah over her barrenness.
Without doubt, Hannah’s burden was heavy. She was miserable. She was isolated. She was grieving, afflicted, and misunderstood.
When faced with this kind of overwhelming trouble, some people curse and complain. Some retreat into self-pity and resentment. Some lash out in anger at those around them.
But Hannah chose a different path.
Again, Scripture states plainly: “she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:10, emphasis mine).
This is the fundamental lesson Hannah teaches us… Whatever we’re facing, even when we’re totally overwhelmed, the way to prevail is to pray!
Friend, if you don’t learn this lesson, then ultimately, you’ll seek to find relief elsewhere—perhaps through endless hours of scrolling social media, through the solace of a bottle of vodka or a packet of pills, or in the arms of a stranger.
That’s why the Scripture says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything” (Philippians 4:6 NLT).
When you’re afflicted, pray. When you’re miserable, pray. When you’re provoked, pray. When you’re sorrowful, pray.
And as we follow in Hannah’s resilient, prayerful footsteps, here’s how we’re to go about it: With passion!
Read the full account of Hannah’s petition in 1 Samuel 1:11–16, and you’ll see she was absolutely passionate in her prayer. We’re told Hannah wept. Her prayers were mixed with her tears.
As the psalmist says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psalm 126:5).
Yes, Hannah prayed with passion. And she prayed with persistence.
The old timers used to call it “praying through,” but in today’s churches, not many people understand what that means. It’s about praying, staying at it, and waiting on God.
In other words, pray, lingering in God’s presence until you know you have that inward assurance from the Holy Spirit that the transaction is complete.
Do you have an overwhelming problem? Take it to God in prayer. Do it with passion and persistence… and then you’ll have reason to praise!
Because, like Hannah, you’ll discover that whatever you put in God’s hands, He can multiply back to you! For after Hannah gave birth to Samuel and gave him into the Lord’s service, she had five more children (1 Samuel 2:21)!
Friend, I’m praying that you’ll be like Hannah and discover the power of prevailing in prayer, to the glory of our God.
