Praying Without Words

The Story

Hannah wanted a child more than anything, and year after year, she couldn’t have one. To make it worse, her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, had several children, and she taunted Hannah about it until Hannah wept and couldn’t eat.

Her husband, Elkanah, loved her. “Am not I better to thee than ten sons?” he asked. He meant well, but it didn’t take the pain away.

Every year the family went up to worship at the tabernacle in Shiloh. One year, after the meal, Hannah slipped away to pray. She was so broken that she couldn’t pray out loud. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. She poured out her soul to God and made a vow: if He would give her a son, she would give him back to the Lord for all his life.

Eli the priest was watching, and he thought she was drunk. “Put away thy wine from thee,” he scolded.

“No, my lord,” she said. “I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit… I have poured out my soul before the LORD.” Eli’s tone changed. “Go in peace,” he said, “and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition.”

Hannah went back, ate, and the Bible says “her countenance was no more sad.” Nothing had changed yet, but she had left it with God.

The next year, she held a baby boy. She named him Samuel. And when he was old enough, she kept her promise and brought him to serve at the tabernacle. Samuel grew up to become one of the greatest prophets in Israel’s history.

Reflection