Understanding Hannah: Lessons in Trust, Faith and Perseverance

Today we are all about Hannah. Her story, her life and how her faith inspires us in this age of many things. Hannah’s story is in the book of 1 Samuel. While the book teaches us a good lesson about Hannah and her faith, it also teaches us about life in general; the people live with, the people we encounter and the choices we have in those encounters. This is Hannah, and her story speaks of a living faith worth hearing, understanding and learning.

Hannah’s Barrenness

Hannah’s story begins with a great opening about not only a poignant struggle – the ache of barrenness but also about love. In a society then like now, a woman’s worth was often measured by her ability to bear children, Hannah faced not only personal grief but societal stigma. So Hannah’s sorrow was multiplied at home because of Peninah, Elkanah’s other wife irritations and provokes. I believe she might have thought that her husband’s love was not it, she needed children of her own.

Yet, in the midst of all this rivalry, Hannah’s faith shines. Hannah’s response was not one of bitterness or resignation; instead, she chose to seek and turn to the one who made her in prayer. I just wondered, to whom do we run when faced with challenges? Who do we lean to when life is not going as we had prayed or hoped? When the circumstances are just circumstantial?

Husband and wife, you only hope for one thing after she says yes, put that ring on her and walk down the aisle saying I DO, together. Spend life together and make life together. And just like any other woman, I believe producing offspring is one of the marriage fruits. So what happens when we do not get to perform our duty and produce fruits from the union?

Of course, we have different opinions on marriage and childbearing, But one thing that stood in God’s promise since Genesis, have dominion (rule) and be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. And while fruits are not children alone but also in the works of hands and divine ideas given to us to implement, it is through children that life and dominion are sustained on earth.

Off the topic. Let us keep learning.

Making a Covenant in Faith

Hannah’s faith wasn’t passive; it involved action. In 1 Samuel 1:11, she made a vow to God, promising that if He granted her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord. This act of consecration was a tangible expression of her faith and trust in God’s ability to transform her circumstances.

1 Samuel 1:11 (NIV): “And she made a vow, saying, ‘Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.’”

Hannah’s covenant teaches us that faith involves not only trusting God but also taking intentional steps of commitment. It’s about surrendering our desires and plans to God, believing that His ways are higher and better and perfect than ours. Why do we pray or ask for what we do?

Worshiping in Faith

After making her vow, Hannah didn’t sit back and wait idly; she worshipped. In 1 Samuel 1:19-20, we see her and her husband, Elkanah, worshipping the Lord even before Samuel was born.

1 Samuel 1:19-20 (NIV): “Early the next morning they arose and worshipped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.”

Hannah’s worship in anticipation of God’s answer reveals a vital aspect of faith – the ability to worship in advance of the manifestation of our prayers. This challenges us to maintain a spirit of gratitude and worship even in the midst of unanswered prayers, trusting that God is working behind the scenes.

It is inspiring as well to notice Elkanah’s place in all this. What should men do when women and their wives commit to doing something for the LORD? Elkanah shows a good example.

Trusting God’s Timing

One of the most remarkable aspects of Hannah’s story is the timing of God’s answer. After years of barrenness and fervent prayer, God remembered Hannah and granted her a son – Samuel. This highlights the lesson that faith involves trusting God’s timing, even when it seems delayed. And since (often) we do not know nor have signs when He is going to answer, we ought to trust in God through it all.

Because we know for sure, that when He says it is, it shall be.

1 Samuel 1:20 (NIV): “So in the course of time, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.'”

Hannah’s journey teaches us that the fulfilment of God’s promises often unfolds in His perfect timing, His time. In seasons of waiting, our faith is refined, and our dependence on either deepens or weakens. But with prayer and devotion (focus unto Him), God strengthens that relationship and us as well.

Trusting in God’s timing requires patience and a steadfast belief that He is working everything for our good. Especially when there is no cloud in the sky. We just know, when it is season, it shall rain.

…and the LORD remembered her.

1 Samuel 1:19

Faithfulness in Promises and Vows

Hannah’s story does not end with the birth of Samuel; it continues to unfold in faith. Hannah not only prays but vows to God on her fruit. This was the moment God knew He could work with her to make His plan work in Israel. He knew she wasn’t only in tears for herself but realised, If God is not working it or causing it to happen, there must be a deeper meaning to it all. And there was.

Hannah’s commitment to her vow of faith was shown through her actions. She fulfilled it by taking the kid to Eli as she promised. In 1 Samuel 1:24-28, we witness her fulfilling her promise to God by presenting Samuel to Eli, the priest, for a lifetime of service in the house of the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28 (NIV): “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life, he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshipped the Lord there.

Hannah’s act of presenting Samuel to God teaches us about the importance of honouring our commitments to God. It underscores the idea that faith is not just about receiving from God but also about our response to His faithfulness. In keeping our promises, we strengthen our relationship with God and cultivate a deeper sense of trust.

Qn: Do you have any vows that need a re-visit and that you need to fulfil? Go back to when you vowed and remember to do your part, repent and do them or repent and ask for God’s direction if failed to do so in the time he directed.

Praise in Faith

There is something amazing about Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:19. Hannah poured her heart out in tears before but now in worship. Hannah woke up, worshipped God and left for Ramah believing God, the faithful one had surely heard her.

And He who lives in worship and praise and He who does not despise a broken spirit heard her.

“Then they rose up in the morning early and worshipped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.“

What is more beautiful about Hannah was after she conceived and bore the child. She did consecrate the child before God and presented the kid to Eli. This was where many could lament but she was filled with joy and sang to the Lord,

1 Samuel 2:1 (NIV): “Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.’”

Hannah’s praise in the midst of challenges demonstrates a faith that transcends circumstances. It’s a powerful reminder that our faith should not be contingent on favourable conditions. In both joy and sorrow, praise becomes a catalyst for a deeper connection with God. And what becomes of her from all this prayer, worship, devotion, broken spirit, tears and vows?

The multiplication of the blessings just like God promised in giving and offering.

The Multiplication of Blessings Through Faith

Hannah’s faith not only impacted her own life but extended to future generations. In 1 Samuel 2:21, we learn that God blessed Hannah with more children – three sons and two daughters six children in total out of her. She who was called barren is not a mother to many.

1 Samuel 2:21 (NIV): “And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.”

As a first fruit, it is a reminder of how important giving in faith whether it is tithes or the first fruits themselves means a lot to both parties. And especially us who surely need God to flow within us and everything around us (soil, sky, water) to live.

This expansion of blessings illustrates a fundamental principle of faith – that as we remain faithful in our trust in God, He opens the floodgates of His provision. Hannah’s life becomes a testament to the multiplication of blessings that flow from a heart anchored in unwavering faith.

A Faith Leaned Life Journey

Hannah’s faith – from the depths of despair to the heights of praise, from the anguish of barrenness to the joy of multiplied blessings. It invites us to embrace our own faith journeys with a spirit of anticipation and resilience.

Whether facing the pain of unfulfilled desires or navigating the complexities of keeping our promises to God, Hannah’s faith provides a roadmap. It’s a roadmap that leads us to a deeper understanding of God’s character and an unwavering trust in His plans.

May the story of Hannah inspire you to live a life marked by persistent faith, committed worship, and the fulfilment of promises. Trust in God’s timing, honour your commitments and let your praises echo through the highs and lows. In the grand tapestry of your life, may faith be the vibrant thread that weaves a narrative of divine grace, unyielding hope, and the surpassing peace that comes from trusting in the God who holds the threads of our stories in His hands.

So, dear reader, live life, and embrace the unknown with a heart full of faith, for just as God turned Hannah’s barrenness into fruitfulness, He can transform your challenges into opportunities for growth and blessing.

Remember:

In Hannah’s life, we find a vibrant life of faith, worship, patience, resilience, and trust in God. What does her life reflect on our own journeys? When life presents challenges that seem impossible, can we learn to do or act as Hannah did – turning to God in prayer, making commitments of faith, worshipping in anticipation, and trusting in God’s perfect timing?

Yes, we can. For now we know that, just as Hannah’s faith paved the way for the birth of Samuel, our trust in God can pave the way for the birth of new possibilities, breakthroughs, and miracles in our lives. It is impossible to please God without, so let us believe with every blood cell in us, that God is in control for He is.

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