A Prayerful Woman

March is dubbed as women’s month, it’s a time for women to give importance in their femininity. Nowadays women play vital roles in the society. We can notice that women hold important positions may it be in various government, private and church organizations. Some of these women are single and others are even married who juggle their time at home and at work. For those women who are full time mother and wife, on another note face a different challenge.

In order for a woman to be able to do what is expected of her, she needs the support of her family, friends, rely on God’s providence and may need a role model. The Holy Bible has a number of women that can be looked up to. One of which is Hannah, whose story can be found in the old testament particularly in the book of first Samuel 1:1-2:21.

“The story begins in the hills of Ephraim, with a man named Elkanah, son of Tohu, son of Jeroham, of the clan of Zuph. Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children but Hannah did not. Every year Elkanah went from Ramah to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. Each time Elkanah offered his sacrifice, he would give one share of the meat to Peninnah and one share to each of her children. And even though he loved Hannah very much he would give her only one share, because the Lord had kept her childless. This went on year after year; whenever they went to the house of the Lord, Peninnah would upset Hannah so much that she would cry and refuse to eat anything” (1 Sam. 1:1-8).

“One time, after they had finished their meal in the house of the Lord at Shiloh, Hannah got up. She was deeply distressed, and she cried bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. Hannah made a solemn promise: ‘Lord Almighty, look at me your servant! See, my trouble and remember me! Don’t forget me! If you give me a son, I promised that I will dedicate him to you for his whole life and that he will never have his hair cut'” (1 Sam. 1:9-11).

And the Lord answered Hannah’s prayer… “So it was that she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, She named him Samuel” (1 Sam. 1:20). “So I am dedicating him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he will belong to the Lord” (1 Sam 1:28). “The Lord did bless Hannah, and she had three more sons and two daughters. The boy Samuel grew up in the service of the Lord” (1 Sam. 2:21).

Indeed, Hannah’s story is about determination and prayer. When one truly prayed with ones whole heart, the Lord answers it. May we women make Hannah as our model of strength and of being prayerful. Let us be like her that is worth imitating for her determination to ask God for what she desires is truly ideal.

“Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).