The Story of Hannah

The story of Hannah praying for Samuel has been my favorite Bible story since I was a little girl. I can remember my grandpa asking me what my favorite story was when I was so young. I probably couldn't even read yet, but I answered the story of Hannah was my favorite. I have always loved it! Then a few years ago, I was working as the Bible study coordinator at Daniel Springs Baptist Camp with one of my all time favorite people who was my youth pastor in middle and high school, Jason Prewitt. One of the Bible studies was about Hannah that summer, and when Jason asked me which lesson I would like to teach to the adults at camp, I instantly said Hannah! This story clearly impacted me from a young age, but I was able to learn so much more from Hannah's example and faithfulness as an adult.

Allow me to give you a very quick summary of Hannah's story.
1. Hannah was married to Elkanah, but she was barren.
2. Hannah wanted a son desperately, so she fervently prayed to God and begged Him for a son and promised to give the child back to God.
3. God gave Hannah a son, and she named him Samuel.
4. Hannah gave Samuel back to God when he was still a child and left him at the house of the Lord.

Now that you've been reminded of the basics of the story, here are some of my takeaways. I have read this story MANY times. There's no telling, but it's definitely the passage I've read the most, but every single time I read it, God reveals something new to me! (Because God's just good like that!)

Hannah's Barrenness
Here's the thing I didn't mention in my summary. Hannah's husband had another wife, Peninnah, who had children. Hannah knew she could not have children, and she struggled with this. She wanted a child so badly. Not only did she struggle with infertility, but her husband's other wife had plenty of children. And not only did Peninnah have multiple kids, but my version of the Bible said she "provoked" Hannah. In other words, Peninnah was awful. She knew Hannah couldn't conceive, and she took every chance she got to brag about how many children she had. So Hannah is already so upset because she can't have a child, but there's added heartbreak because ANOTHER WOMAN is providing HER HUSBAND with children! Giving her husband what she cannot. And then bragging about it. (Seriously, I can't stand Peninnah!) Here's the amazing part, though! Elkanah, the husband, loved HANNAH MORE! 1 Samuel 1:5 says so! (Take that, Peninnah!) Hannah wept because she wanted a baby so badly, and Elkanah asked her, "Am I not better to you than 10 sons?" Poor Elkanah, he just didn't get it!

Infertility is so hard. I have not actually been diagnosed with fertility problems. I'm not prepared for that. Maybe one day, we'll seek testing and treatment, but for now focusing on adoption is all I want! So while I have no medical diagnosis, all I know is I'm not pregnant. I do understand Hannah's desire for a child. I do understand what it's like to hope and pray month after month for a second pink line on a plastic stick. (I mean, I know Hannah didn't have pregnancy tests, but you get the point.) I understand Hannah's heart.
Now, thankfully in modern day, it's illegal to have more than one spouse, so I cannot relate to her husband's other wife having loads of kids and bragging nonstop. What I CAN relate to is watching friends and family make pregnancy announcements and having to force a smile and a congratulations while doing my best to force back the tears. Oh, I understand. I understand the why not me moments and the why them moments. I understand holding a loved one's newborn and telling them how happy you are for them but staring at that baby just wondering when it will ever happen for you. It makes you feel terrible. You're genuinely happy for those having babies, but the jealousy is REAL. And it can be an ugly thing.
As far as Elkanah asking Hannah if he's enough for her...oh Elkanah. It's not a matter of enough or better than 10 sons. It's a matter of a desire deep within Hannah's heart to be a mother. I have not had this happen with Austin. He has never said anything like this. In fact, I asked him the other day if we had decided to pursue fertility testing and treatments instead of adoption and were told it was never going to happen for us, would he have been okay with it just being the two of us forever. He said, "I think I would have suggested adoption." I didn't take his answer as saying, "You're not enough for me." I took it as my husband has the same deep desire to be a parent as I do. When the Lord has embedded something within you, I believe He will fulfill it one way or another. For Elkanah, he already had children with Peninnah. I know he would have loved to have children with Hannah too, but he had what Hannah wanted already. He just didn't understand.

Hannah's Prayer Life
Listen, I know I've already spoiled the ending by telling you that Hannah does end up having a son, which is obviously an amazing miracle, but Hannah's prayer at the taberncale NEEDS to be noted! It's one of my favorite parts of the story! 1 Samuel 1:10 says, "And she was in bitterness of soul and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish." A few verses later, it says that Hannah was not praying aloud, but her lips were moving, and she was sobbing. The priest, Eli, saw her and thought she was DRUNK! She explained to Eli that she had not been drinking, but that she "poured out her soul before the Lord." Then when she left, the Bible says her face was no longer sad.

There's just so much here. First of all, I don't know that I've ever prayed in a manner that caused anyone to think I was drunk! Yes, I have prayed through sobs to God, but I think Hannah was praying on a whole different level. She was in bitterness of soul and prayed and wept in anguish. She held NOTHING back. I believe she was praying BOLDLY. She begged God for a son and promised to give him back all the days of his life. She was not trying to bargain with God. She wasn't saying, "If you do this, I'll do this." She was telling God that the reason she wanted a son was to raise him for the Lord. Her entire purpose for wanting to become a mother was to bring honor and glory to God. Her heart was pure, and she spoke to God passionately. She did not whine to God and ask, "Why can't I have a baby?" (Which I have totally done. Many times.) I believe the reason she was praying so fervently was because she understood WHO she was praying to. She understand that God is able. She understood that God COULD make it happen. It wasn't a wish. It was fact. God could (and can) make a barren woman conceive a child. God can handle our deepest emotions, desires, disappointments, anger...HE CAN HANDLE IT! And Hannah knew that.

Hannah's Miracle
She had a baby! She prayed and believed that God would fulfill the desire which He had placed in her heart, and she had a baby boy. She named him Samuel, "Because I have asked for him from the Lord." I just can't imagine her excitement, happiness, and joy when she found out she was expecting. I wish I could have seen the look on her face when she held Samuel for the first time!

Here's the thing. Hannah's miracle does not happen for everyone. There are people who long to be parents. They pray and pray and try and try and go through treatment after treatment. Thousands of dollars are spent. Countless pregnancy tests. And it never happens. Does this mean they're praying wrong or that God loves them less or that God is not as faithful. NO. Absolutely not. It's hard to understand why God allows some to have biological children on their own with ease, while some must undergo treatments and years of waiting and hoping before finally conceiving, and then others try and try and try but never have biological children. I don't know why. All I can do is believe that God is good, and He is sovereign above all things. I know some people were meant to become parents through foster and/or adoption. Some are meant to be like parents to nieces, nephews, friends' children, church children, school children, etc. I believe that God will provide a peace that passes all understanding if we trust in Him.

Hannah's Faithfulness and Praise
Hannah made a vow to God that she would give her son back to him, and she meant it. So when Samuel was still very young, and she was finished nursing him, she took him back to the house of the Lord. She saw good old Eli who previously thought she had been drunk while praying, and she told Eli who she was. This is where a very well known verse comes from. She told Eli, "For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him." Then she told Eli she was giving Samuel back to God. She prayed again, but this time it wasn't out of anguish and bitterness. It was out of thankfulness and praise to God! Then they left, but Samuel stayed with Eli, where he learned from Eli and ministered there.

Okay, Hannah sounds crazy. She prayed and prayed and prayed for a son. She had the son. And she gave the son away. Confusing? It could be. But this brings me back to my point earlier. Her entire purpose for wanting to become a mother was to bring honor and glory to God. She desperately wanted Samuel FOR THIS REASON! She didn't dream of taking Samuel to tee-ball practice, reading him bedtime stories, and all the baby snuggles. She dreamed of having a child who would grow up to honor the Lord. That's it. Period. So when he was old enough, she kept her vow. Hannah would come and visit Samuel, but she didn't view Samuel as hers, but as God's.
So, I do dream of tee-ball practice, bedtime stories, and snuggles. However, I also dream of teaching our child Bible stories, praying with him or her, sobbing when he/she accepts Jesus as their Savior, and sending our child on church mission trips. I want to be the mom who goes to sporting events, has movie nights, and makes tons of memories, but I also want to be the mom who leads her children to the Lord. I love Hannah's example!

Samuel
Samuel grows up to be a great man of God. He becomes a prophet and a judge, and he was one of the most obedient and faithful of the The Old Testament, and it all started with his mother's bold prayers and faithful heart. Hannah intended to have a son who would serve God, and that's exactly what happened. See, GOD HAS A PLAN ALWAYS! It may not make sense at the time, but our lives are puzzle pieces part of God's greater picture, and He will complete them in His timing and will.

Hannah's story is so powerful. It can be used as a lesson on prayer, faithfulness, and obedience. Hannah is so relatable. From that nasty Peninnah to her husband who loved her but just didn't understand to her honest and passionate prayer...I'm just a Hannah fan. I have prayed countless prayers begging God to PLEASE give us a baby. Shortly after we decided to pursue adoption, I realized my prayers had not been for pregnancy, but for a baby. God meant for us to adopt our whole lives. We just didn't know! We thought our family would begin through a biological child, but it won't. And as I mentioned before, God truly does provide a peace that passes all understanding when you choose to trust Him alone. Do I hope to one day have a biological child? Yes! Very much so! Am I beyond thrilled that our first child is coming to us through adoption? More than I can ever express! I no longer cry each month that I am not pregnant. I do cry, but it's because adoption is HARD WORK! But the tears are not tears of anger, sadness, bitterness, or jealousy. They are tears of joy, excitement, nervousness, and sometimes frustration because the process is difficult. But I have a deep contentment and joy that we are on this path! We miscarried a baby right after we got married, and it still hurts my heart to think about. All I know right now is that if it had not happened, we would be expecting a baby any day now, which would be wonderful. However we wouldn't be pursing adoption. I am not grateful for a miscarriage. I am not glad it happened. However, I am so grateful and glad that through that heartbreak, God brought us here! I'm clinging to the story of Hannah, and I'm clinging to God's goodness and faithfulness.

1 Samuel 1:1-2:11 (But I'd encourage you to read past this point to see all that Samuel becomes!)