Prayers transform lives!

1 Sam.1:9-10, ‘ So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the ^[c]tabernacle of the Lord. ¹⁰ And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and ^[d]wept in anguish.’

 We all have heard much about Hannah and her prayers. Prayers not only give us answers from the Lord, but also change our lives. A prayerless life is like a dead life, unable to move ahead, getting bound by situations. Hannah faced this in her life till the moment she decided to arise and pray.

The character of Hannah is introduced as wife of Elkanah, who had no children. V 5 of this chapter says that the Lord Himself had closed her womb. When God closes a way, He has a definite purpose. And prayers alone reveal His purposes. We can see Hannah’s life in two parts: one before she arises or commits herself for prayers and the other, the part after she commits herself for prayers. Let us see the initial part of Hannah’s life closely and note certain traits ruling her.

Frustrated: Hannah was mocked by Peninah, who had children.  V 6 says that her adversary provoked her so much so that Hannah was much frustrated. 1 Sam.1:6, ‘And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb.’  Frustration is being annoyed as a result of not achieving or not being able to change a situation. Hannah’s womb being closed by God Himself, no man, no medication nor any human counsel could change the situation. She had to go through the feeling of frustration of barrenness.

Depressed: 1 Sam.1:7, ‘So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore, she wept and did not eat.’ Elkanah, Hannah’s husband was a Godly person. He went to the temple every year with his family to worship the Lord. Hannah would go too. She too might have desired to worship but was unable to do so. She was provoked so much by her rival that left her depressed. She ended up those days weeping and eating nothing.

Uncomforted: 1 Sam.1:8, ‘Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”’ Hannah was blessed with a loving husband who understood her well. He gave her double portions from the offerings. He tried to comfort her much with loving and caring words. But Hannah would not be comforted.

Now let us see Hannah’s later life closely i.e., after she decides to rise up and pray. She now refused to continue her life in frustration, depression and in pain. When we read ‘rose up’, it refers to a commitment. She submitted herself to pray and thus to move closer to God. This is the right step which ought to be taken in any situation.

Prayers give us a shoulder to cry : 1 Sam.1:10, ‘ And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and ^[d]wept in anguish.’  Hannah vented out the bitterness that had accumulated in her heart due to barrenness to His feet. She trusted that the Lord would never misunderstand her. Prayers is not just asking or talking to God. At times, it’s just weeping and crying with no particular words at His feet, fully realizing that the Lord is hearing our cry, seeing our hearts and understanding our untold misery. Today, many in this world feel that there is none to hear or understand their pains and struggles. Hence, they go through much frustration and depression. But we forget that we have a Lord, ever ready to listen to us, no matter which time and in which place. And He sees us, watches over us, walks with us and understands us. We just need to open the door of prayers, ready to see that shoulder waiting to bear our tears.

Prayers offer us an altar to offer unto the Lord: 1 Sam.1:11, ‘Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’ Once Hannah’s heart was lightened after she wept, she could see an altar where she offered her unseen son, which was yet to be granted by the Lord. She saw the Lord’s need for a faithful servant before she was even sure whether her prayers would be answered. Thus, she expressed her love for the Lord. She hereby told the Lord that she wanted a son, not just to be a mother, but also to see His name being glorified through him. When a mother offers her child for the work of the Lord, it is like offering herself unto the Lord. For the child is her important part of her whole life and heart.

Prayers transform the person who prays : 1 Sam.1:15, ‘ But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.’  Earlier, Peninah’s mocking words offended Hannah much. But here though Eli’s words too sounded to be like a mockery, Hannah seemed not be offended. Very politely and with much respect, she responded ‘no my Lord’ and explained her situation. Prayers do change our situations. But more than that, it changes our hearts who commits themselves to pray.

Prayers increase faith: 1 Sam.1:18, ‘ And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.’ The moment Eli priest said that the Lord has granted her petition, she believed and she was no more sad. Though we do not know exactly when she finally conceived, she never doubted. Her face was no longer sad. Prayers give the light of hope even in the darkest hopeless situation of life.

Prayers prepares our heart to worship the Lord: 1 Sam.1:19, ‘Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah.’  Earlier for years, though Hannah would accompany Elkanah to the temple to worship, she would end up her days with weeping, not eating, unable to worship. For a frustrated and depressed heart cannot worship with all one’s heart. But prayers lightened Hannah’s heart. She was comforted by the Lord Himself. She had hope now. Hence she was able to worship the Lord. Prayers prepare our hearts to worship.

Prayers enables us to rejoice in His salvation : 1 Sam.2:1, ‘And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My ^[a]horn is exalted in the Lord. ^[b]I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.’ Parting from a child is the most painful time in a mother’s life. And for Hannah, she had parted from the much awaited baby. She had waited for years and years with much tears for this child, whom she handed over to Eli priest to be brought up in God’s ways and for God’s service. But instead of being sad, Hannah was singing to the Lord and rejoicing in His salvation. Prayers had enabled Hannah to love God who had given her the gift of child more than the gift. Prayers increase our love for the Lord.

We thus see Hannah’s life in two parts. One was before she rose up to pray, when she was ruled by frustration, depression and was uncomforted. In the later part, after she rose up to pray, we see hope, rejoicing, faith and love for God ruling her heart. Prayers broke her bondages and set her free in the Lord to respond to God’s calling in her life. We again see the importance of a prayerful life here. Praying and being prayerful are two different concepts. Praying once in a day or once a while is like normal tradition which hardly makes a difference in life. But being prayerful is like having a love and passion for prayers every now and then. This changes lives and situations. May God strengthen us to break the bondages of frustration, depression and uncomforted hearts with prayerfulness.

God bless us all.