She Kept on Praying...

"There once was a man who lived in Ramathaim...His name was Elkanah. 

He had two wives. The first was Hannah; the second was Peninnah. 

Peninnah had children; Hannah did not."

1 Samuel 1:1 (MSG)

Hannah had a problem...a problem that was completely out of her hands. She needed God to move on her behalf.

Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, was not a pleasant person. She had born Elkanah several children and never hesitated to remind Hannah of that fact; as if Hannah could possibly not notice all those children running around the house with hair or eyes so similar to Elkanah's.

Elkanah took his entire family to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to God each year. Year after year, Peninnah taunted Hannah with her words along the way, possibly with a new baby on her hip time after time.

Hannah was heartbroken. She needed God to move!

Elkanah tried to console her; wasn't he enough for her? Here...have some food! (Because food cures all, right?) As you read the story, it seems that for his sake Hannah tries to pull herself together, eat some dinner and then slips away from the table. Away from the festivities, away from the chatter of little voices.

But she was broken. As she entered the temple, she began to pray...silently, but weeping inconsolably. the NIV translation says, "she kept on praying..."

That's the verse that stopped me in my tracks as I read this chapter. "She kept on praying." She had been praying year after year, asking the same thing of God time after time. She had endured the humiliation of Peninnah's words and the pathetic looks from other moms. But, "she kept on praying..."

What is it that you desperately need from God today?
Have you been asking Him over and over, time after time, maybe year after year?
Do you wonder if He will ever respond or answer your prayer?

You're not alone, for I have, too, as have many others around us. But, I was reminded to do as Hannah did...keep on praying!!

Hannah received her miracle. By the next year, Samuel had been born to her and she rejoiced greatly She had promised God she would return him to serve God all of his days. But the taunting words no longer affected her. The sound of little feet or chattering voices no longer reminded her of her lack. she had received her promise, all because..."she kept on praying."

'Lena
©Whispers in Worship