We are not told how long Hannah
had been married without having children. Possibly ten years or longer, for
Elkanah had had time to marry a second wife and have sons and daughters by her
(1 Sam. 1:4). Elkanah’s polygamy was acceptable in the culture of his time but
was hardly the way to assure peace in his household or convince Hannah of his
love for her. It would seem that Peninnah’s taunting had gone on for some years
(1 Sam. 1:7). Had Hannah prayed for a child before? Or was it the insensitivity
displayed by Elkanah’s remarks in verse 8 that drove her to prayer?

Hannah prayed and prayed
earnestly, perhaps desperately. She wept; she was oblivious to onlookers. She
uttered no words aloud and when rebuked by Eli for what he assumed to be
drunkenness, she admitted to having poured out her soul to the LORD but did not
tell Eli the nature of her problem. Perhaps she was afraid of being
misunderstood again. Perhaps she considered her problem too personal to be
discussed with a man outside her family. She evidently believed God would
answer the prayer because she was no longer sad and could enjoy the feast
(verses 9-18).

We learn some things about prayer
from Hannah’s experience. First, we can take any problem to God. Matters that
we would be embarrassed or reluctant to tell anyone—even our spouses or
physicians or best friends—can be taken to God without fear. He always
understands and never rejects us. He will hear and provide answers.

Second, we learn something of the
richness of God’s grace. In Ephesians 3:20 we read that God "is able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." Hannah’s experience
gives practical evidence that He is not only able but willing. Hannah asked for
one son. God gave her a total of four sons plus two daughters (2 Sam. 2:21).

Hannah also prayed in thanksgiving
after Samuel was born (1 Sam. 2:1-10). The tone of this prayer is, naturally,
much different from the first, but it is as intense as the first. Again, Hannah
did not hold anything back from the Lord, but poured out her soul to Him.

So pray earnestly, deeply,
intensely. Make God your primary confidante in trouble and in success, in good
times and bad. He can enter into all of our circumstances and understand them
better than any human friend.

Not only does Hannah provide us
with lessons on prayer, she shows us how to respond to a husband or any other
person who is not "sensitive" or "understanding." I have
often thought that if Elkanah had said to me as he did to Hannah, "Why is your
heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?" (1 Sam. 1:8), I probably
would have responded, "You are a fine one to talk! I wasn’t better to you
than ten sons! My grief is all your fault! If you had prayed as our ancestor
Isaac did in a similar situation (Gen. 25:21) instead of getting yourself a
second wife, perhaps I would have had a son and I would not have to deal with
Peninnah who has caused me nothing but trouble since her first child was
born!"

Thankfully, Hannah did not say
anything like that (and none of us, including myself, should react that way in
similar situations). In fact, it is not recorded that she said anything at all,
even to Peninnah who was really hurtful. Instead Hannah prayed, as we
have discussed above. Our homes and marriages would be far more peaceful if we
responded to our spouses’ insensitive remarks with prayer instead of tongue
lashings.

All of our relationship with
others would benefit by the application of Hannah’s gentle spirit when people
say things we find distressing and irritating.

"A soft answer turns away
wrath, but grievous words stir up anger" (Prov. 15:1).

"By long forbearing is a
prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone" (Prov. 25:15).