Having a Heart like Hannah: 3 Lessons from Her Life

I’ve been married for 5 years this upcoming September. And you know what I’m often asked by others? Yep, you guessed it…when are we having kiddos! And I understand, that usually is the next step in life! But what many people don’t know is that having kids may not be an option for us. Due to my health and specific medications, it certainly isn’t an option right now. And so, when I read passages in Scripture of women who dealt with infertility, my heart resonates with them. But recently I read the story of Hannah and I realized that along with not having kids, we have a few other things in common too.

Hannah grieved. Her desire for children was strong. But as if that wasn’t enough, her husbands other wife, Peninnah, taunted her about her barrenness. This led to Hannah crying and not eating…she was distraught. Now I obviously can’t relate to sharing my husband with another wife, but I do know the pain of longing for something without knowing that it will ever come to be. I know the pain of carrying a burden so heavy that it causes grief and brings discouragement. I know the pain of possibly never giving my husband children, while all along rejoicing with other women who are doing that very thing.

The way Hannah dealt with her situation is a great example for us all. Whether your desire is children, a husband, a promotion, financial freedom, health needs, or a restored relationship…we can learn 3 things from Hannah’s life.

1. Pray boldly and give your desires to God.

Hannah boldly approached God through prayer. She gave her desires to the Lord and when she finished the Bible says she was no longer sad. She literally gave over her grief and requests to the Lord and left it there. And then what did she do? She ate!

2. Remain faithful.

After Hannah’s prayer was answered, she kept her promise of giving Samuel (her son) back to the Lord. But before Hannah ever saw her prayer answered, she remained faithful. As we discussed earlier, she gave her desires to the Lord, and when she had finished praying she moved forward. She didn’t know whether God would give her a child or not. But she believed that He would grant her that desire OR help her through the lack of it.

3. Give God the praise.

After Hannah’s prayer was answered, we see her praise the Lord. Not once does she praise Him for her son, but rather she praises God for His strength and work in her life. I absolutely love Hannah’s prayer. She recognizes that the Lord is her strength. She realizes that God often uses the weak to show His strength. And she praises the Lord for who HE IS, not what He had done.

We all have desires in our heart that we want to see fulfilled. The best thing we can do with those desires is to give them to the Lord and trust Him to fulfill them the best way He sees fit. Prayer is powerful. Not because we always get what we want, but because peace is the result of an intimate relationship with Christ.

Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

I once heard it said, “prayer is heart’s-ease to a gracious soul.” Though we may not see our prayer answered specifically how we want it, I think we will find that prayer and Jesus Himself is what brings relief and lasting peace, despite our circumstances. Lysa Terkeurst said, “Comfort isn’t a solution to seek; rather, it’s a by-product we’ll reap when we stay close to the Lord.”

So what about you? Do you have a desire in your heart for something that you have yet to see fulfilled? Are you overwhelmed with anxiety and a heavy burden? Let’s have a heart like Hannah and learn to lay our burdens at His feet and rest in His unending peace.