Hannah's Prayer

Did you know that God can hear a prayer, even when you don't say it out loud? This is the story of a woman named Hannah, and her very quiet prayer.

Long ago, in the hill country, there lived a man named Elkanah and his wife, Hannah. Elkanah loved Hannah very much. But Hannah had a sadness deep in her heart. More than anything, she wanted a baby. But year after year went by, and she had no children at all. There was someone else in the family, named Peninnah, who had lots of children. And Peninnah was unkind. She teased Hannah, again and again.

Every year, the whole family made a trip to Shiloh, to worship God at his house. And every year, Peninnah teased Hannah, until Hannah cried, and was too sad to eat. Elkanah tried to cheer her up. "Hannah, why do you weep? Why don't you eat?" Then he said, "Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

Ten sons! That would be a very noisy house. But even Elkanah's love couldn't take Hannah's sadness away.

So after the family meal, Hannah got up and went to God's house to pray. Old Eli the priest was sitting on his seat, by the doorpost. Hannah was so sad that she cried as she prayed. She told God everything that was in her heart. She asked God to remember her, and to give her a baby boy. And she made a promise. If God gave her a son, she would give him back to God, to serve him all his life. Hannah prayed silently, deep inside her heart. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Eli saw her lips moving, and he got the wrong idea. He thought she had been drinking too much wine, and he scolded her! But Hannah said, "No, my lord." She wasn't doing anything wrong. She was just very, very sad. She said, "I poured out my soul before the Lord." That means she had told God all her feelings, every single one, like pouring water out of a jug until it's empty.

Then Eli spoke kindly. "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him." That means, may God give you what you asked him for. So Hannah went and ate, and her face wasn't sad anymore. She didn't have a baby yet, but she had left her worries with God.

And God remembered Hannah. Before long, she had a baby boy! She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of the Lord." Every time she said his name, she would remember that God had heard her prayer. Hannah didn't forget her promise. When Samuel was a little older, she took him to God's house in Shiloh, to see Eli.

She reminded Eli, "I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord." And she said, "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of him." Then Hannah prayed a happy prayer. She said, "My heart exults in the Lord!" That means, my heart jumps for joy because of God! So young Samuel stayed at God's house, to help Eli, and to learn all about God.

And every year, Hannah made him a little robe, and brought it to him when the family came to worship. Each one was a bit bigger, because Samuel kept on growing! God blessed Hannah with more children too, three more sons and two daughters. Now her house really was noisy, with happy noise! And one night, God would call young Samuel by his name. But that's another story.

This story teaches us that God listens to our prayers, even the quiet ones we pray inside our hearts. We can tell God everything we feel, the happy things and the sad things. He always hears us, and he cares.