3 Things We Can Learn From Hannah

These Are the Three Most Important Things We Learn From Hannah

In 1 Samuel, Hannah is a notable character because of her desperate prayers to God. Elkanah had taken a second wife, and she was one of them. Hannah was unable to conceive children, although Elkanah’s second wife had no such trouble. Hannah’s depression stemmed from her inability to have a family. Peninnah, the second wife, added to Hannah’s anguish with her brutal treatment. Hannah, in spite of her difficulties, was a great, courageous, and dedicated lady.

Here are three things we may learn from Hannah:

Firstly, Shout to God

In the beginning of the story, Hannah shows us that it is important to pray. Desperately seeking relief, she decided to pray to God about her problems. “In her intense grief Hannah pleaded to the Lord, sobbing hard,” the Bible says of Hannah. And she said, “Lord Almighty, if you would look on your servant’s affliction and remember me, and not forget your servant but grant 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” (1 Samuel 1:10-11).

Eli assumed Hannah was drunk while she was praying to the Lord. Hannah seemed to be praying, but all she did was make silent lip movements (1 Samuel 1:12-14). When Eli asks Hannah if she’s drunk, she explains that she has been praying out of “great agony and sadness” (1 Samuel 1:16b). When Eli realizes she is sober, he urges her to leave him alone (1 Samuel 1:17). When Hannah returns home and hears something, her expression brightens (1 Samuel 1:18).

Hannah’s supplication is heard and granted by the Lord. Almost immediately, Hannah becomes pregnant and has a son (1 Samuel 1:19-20). Hannah decides to call her son Samuel. After his mother Hannah gave him to the Lord, Samuel went to live with Eli in the Temple at Shiloh. In his latter years, Samuel turned to God and was called to the prophetic ministry. A number of years later, Samuel was able to officially crown David as Israel’s monarch (1 Samuel 16:1-13).

Hannah’s story shows us the value of praying to God in times of need. We must take our despair to God if we are experiencing extreme suffering. The Lord doesn’t want us to keep our sentiments pent up. He wants us to come to Him and spill our souls before Him. God knows the agony we are suffering, and He wants to surround us in His love.

Unfortunately, prayer is generally the last choice rather than the first. Pick today as the day you open up to God and share your true feelings with him. God is kind and understands our pain. Even though we are told by society to “never let them see you weep,” God invites us to express our vulnerability to Him. A flood of our tears will not faze him. Although God may provide us comfort, it may not always come in the form we anticipate. Just as God was there with Hannah, He will be there with you too.

The second paradox is that of weakness as strength.

Hannah also reminds us that vulnerability may really be formidable. Let’s take a look at the odds stacked against Hannah: academics suspect she was depressed, Peninnah mocked her, and Eli made up a story that she was drunk. Hannah still turned to God and found comfort and strength in Him despite all the bad things that had happened to her. In her weakness, suffering, and sadness, she grew strong because of God. The Lord’s grace and love were sufficient to carry her through this trying time.

Similarly, we need to keep in mind that our own vulnerabilities may really serve as sources of strength. It is through our infirmities that we turn to the Lord and seek for His aid. In our modern world, we are taught to put our power in ourselves, while the Bible reminds us our strength comes from the Lord. You are my shelter and my refuge; Psalm 59:16 says as much.

Our confidence comes from the hope the Lord has given us, and He is our strength. Hannah’s heart was broken by unfathomable sorrow, and she was left physically frail, yet God remained her fortress. No matter what you go through today, realize that your weakness is strength. We can accomplish nothing without Christ. But God helps us through the tough times when we pray to Him.

Understand That You Are Not Alone in Your Grief

Finally, Hannah shows us that it’s okay to be sad. Many people questioned me why I was mourning so much when my mother died away, and their questions made me feel bad about my emotions. Listen up, buddy: sadness is typical. Grieving is a perfectly normal human emotion. Grief is an inevitable and natural human emotion. There is no one right way to deal with loss, but we should all give each other space to do what is right for us.

After a loved one dies, a relationship ends, or a big traumatic event occurs, it is common to regret what was lost or what may have been. Hannah was already heartbroken about her inability to have a family, and Peninnah was just making things worse by adding insult to injury. Hannah’s loved ones failed to comprehend her pain. Hannah, why are you weeping?” questioned her husband Elkanah. You should eat, so why don’t you? What gives you such a bad mood? To you, am I not more valuable than 10 sons? (First Samuel 1:8) Elkanah probably meant well by attempting to comfort her, but he couldn’t fathom her loss.

Similarly, Eli failed to comprehend Hannah’s prayer of despair. He mistook her slurred prayer for the product of inebriation, when in fact it was the result of deep personal suffering. Nobody outside of our immediate circle of friends and family can ever really comprehend the depths of our personal loss. The people around you may empathize if they have been through something similar, but no one can really comprehend your loss the way God can. It is natural to feel guilty about grieving, so try not to. A demonstration of how much you cared for the deceased is shown via grief.

Mourning can’t be rushed. Although the first stages of mourning may last for a few months, the pain of loss frequently continues for much longer. Even though it’s been six years since she passed away, my family and I still miss her terribly. As discouraging as it may seem, some loss is permanent. Is there a reduction in its complexity? Sure, usually after some time has passed. Is there any evidence that I’ve evolved in the years following my mother’s death? I must admit that I’ve undergone significant development. Individuals undergo transformations in the wake of tragic loss. Perhaps the once-outgoing individual is now more introverted and would rather be left alone with their thoughts.
Because we live in a corrupted environment, sorrow is constant. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, because the Lord promises a day when all things will be restored. Sickness, suffering, and death will be a thing of the past (Revelation 21:4). Thus, grieving is a natural and necessary aspect of recovering from a traumatic experience. Like Hannah demonstrates, we may find comfort in God’s enormous love and protection from our sorrow.