We have recently celebrated Mother’s Day; a day that is often filled with flowers, laughter and celebration. But for many, it’s also a day of quiet sorrow. Some mourn the loss of a mother.
Others carry the ache of unfulfilled hopes. In 1 Samuel 1, we meet Hannah— a woman who so desperately desired to be a mother. This story speaks to every soul that has ever known heartache.
Hannah’s pain was deeply personal. Though dearly loved by her husband, Elkanah, she was barren. Her inability to bear children brought her emotional agony, especially as she endured the cruel taunts of Peninnah. In a culture where a woman’s worth was often measured by motherhood, Hannah’s sorrow ran deep. The Bible tells us she “wept sore” and “did not eat.”
This wasn’t a mild disappointment— it was despair.
Yet Hannah’s story didn’t end in tears. In the bitterness of her soul, she went to the house of the Lord. She didn’t lash out in anger or retreat in silence. She prayed. Her prayer wasn’t eloquent or loud. In fact, her lips moved, but no sound came. Eli the priest even thought she was drunk.
But she replied, “I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit…I have poured out my soul before the Lord.”
That phrase—“ poured out my soul”— captures the heart of true prayer. It wasn’t a performance.
It was surrender. In her desperation, she made a vow: If God gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord all the days of his life. This wasn’t bargaining. It was trust. She wasn’t asking for a child to prove something— she longed to honor God with what He might give.
What’s remarkable is that Hannah left that moment changed. Her situation had not yet improved, but her heart had found peace. The Bible says she “did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.” That’s the power of surrendered prayer—peace before the provision, the answer, comes.
In time, God answered.
“The Lord remembered her,” Scripture says, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, which means “Asked of God.” Her waiting was not wasted. Her pain became a testimony.
Hannah kept her vow. Once Samuel was weaned, she brought him to the temple and presented him to the Lord. “For this child I prayed,” she said, “and the Lord hath given me my petition…therefore I have lent him to the Lord.”
This final act—giving Samuel back to God— wasn’t easy, but it was worship. It reminds us that when God blesses us, the right response is not possession, but presentation. True faith holds nothing too tightly—not a child, not a dream, not a desire.
Hannah’s story is more than a tribute to a godly mother. It’s a roadmap for anyone navigating sorrow. When we bring our brokenness to God, He meets us with compassion. When we pray with honesty and surrender, He offers peace even before the answer comes. And when we receive from His hand, we must be willing to return it with open hands.
So today, whether you’re celebrating, grieving, or waiting—remember Hannah. Her story began with heartache but ended with hope. And the same God who heard her prayer hears your prayer, and mine.
On another note, thank you all who have recently mentioned reading my guest column. I pray they continue to be a blessing. If I can ever pray for you or minister to you in some way, reach out to me anytime.
