Hannah means “Gracious”. In the Bible she is one of two wives of Elkanah of the tribe Ephraiam. Hannah is the mother of Samuel, you may have heard of him before. He was a judge of Israel.

Have you read her story of anguish and deep desire to be a mother? If not, she is one to follow. She prayed desperately for a son and vowed to dedicate his life to the Lord if he were to bless her with one. He heard her cries and answered. Hannah kept her promise to the Lord and dedicated Samuel to the temple for him to serve God.

Hannah’s Vow

Each year Hannah and Elkanah went to the temple as a family with Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah and her children. Peninnah ridiculed Hannah mercilessly for being barren. Hannah cried out to God and begged for a child.

In 1 Samuel 10-11, Hannah prays a vow:

10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly”.

11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

Eli, the priest of Shiloh, accused Hannah of being drunk. Hannah explained her position to him and his soft began to soften around her despair. He blessed Hannah in that moment.

God’s Blessing

God answered Hannah’s cries and blessed her with her son Samuel. She kept her promise to God and when he was weaned, she took him back to Eli at the temple. She dedicated his life to the Lord to serve God “all the days of his life”.

Eli continued to bless Hannah and Elkanah each visit. He prayed for God to continue to bless them with additional children for their sacrifice of Samuel. In 1 Samuel 2:20 he said “May the Lord give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the Lord”.

God did. Hannah went on to have five additional children. Three sons and two daughters. She was not forgotten.

Sometimes we can feel like we are not being heard in our cries. We feel like we have been abandoned by God and left to the side by our friends and family who are all able to have children. God hears your cries. He sees your tears. He knows your heart, sister. It can be hard to stay the faith and continue singing joys when we feel our one true prayer is not being answered. He will not abandon you. If you are never able to carry your own biological child, God has a plan and a path for your life.

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