1 Samuel 1:9-20 – "Hannah Prayed"
Introduction:
• Last session, we saw Hannah’s deep sorrow. She had good reasons to feel hopeless, but
instead of turning inward, she turned to God in raw, honest prayer.
• I wonder where your discussions went on this topic? It can feel like a heavy topic, and
yet with 1 in 7 couples struggling with infertility I’d expect that many of you have lived
this
• And God’s role in the closing of the womb can be challenging. Why does God allow this?
Main Teaching:
• How do we respond? We can do so many things, we can doom scroll, we and ignore, we
can try and fix the problem. We can do all of this without God.
• (v9-10) Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up.
Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. In her
deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a
vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and
remember me, and not forget your servant but give 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.” As she
kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart,
and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and
said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”“Not so, myord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking
wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a
wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Eli
answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of
him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and
ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose
and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah
made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time
Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,
[b] saying,
“Because I asked the LORD for him.”
• But what we see from Hannah is honesty as she speaks to God.
• She was weeping bitterly—no religious formalities, just raw emotion.
• Eli misunderstood her—sometimes others don’t recognise what’s happening in our
hearts.
• Hannah’s prayer was different—she didn’t demand; she surrendered.
• 1 Samuel 1:18 – "Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer
downcast." Peace came before the answer—because she trusted in God.
• And practical things matter!
Conclusion:
• Hannah shows us that prayer isn’t just about getting what we want—it’s about giving our
burdens to God and finding peace in Him.
• Hannah gets her son but that isn’t what brings her joy first – peace in the God who knows
us. Isnt that challenging? Rather that I’ll be happy when god gives me what I want, we
rejoice in god as he is the one who is all we need. Do we love him or his gifts?
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you notice about Hannah’s prayer?
2. Why do you think peace came before the answer?
3. Are we satisfied when we receive peace rather than the answer?
