Focal passages: 1 Samuel 1:1-2, 9-11, 17-18, 26-28; 2:1-3
As a pastor, one of my greatest frustrations is to hear someone facing a difficult situation say something like, “Well, I guess all we can do is pray,” as if they have exhausted all of the good options and are now left with prayer as a less desirable, but last available, response. God often quickly brings conviction upon my own heart, however, when I get too critical about such comments.
He quickly reminds me how, even as a pastor, it is very easy to slip into a practice of self-sufficiency where I can spend much of my time preparing and planning and, by contrast, precious little time praying – unless, of course, I have come up on a difficult situation where it seems that prayer is my only remaining option.
There is no doubt that Hannah was in a very heavy and painful situation. She was a broken-hearted woman who had no children, but desperately longed for them. In her case, there was nothing she could do to remedy her painful circumstance. In that time of great distress, she chose not to wallow in self-pity or to walk in self-sufficiency. Instead, she took her situation, by faith, to the only one who could give hope. She acknowledged God for who He was – the Lord of Hosts, the Holy One, her solid Rock. She trusted Him as she asked. She praised Him when He answered.
God desires that we walk by faith and that we demonstrate that faith as we “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Prayer should not be a last resort, all else has failed, kind of endeavor. It should be the consistent practice of our lives – praising God for who He is, declaring our faith in Him, and asking Him to do what is necessary in our lives, both for our good and His glory.
Are you walking with God, by faith, in consistent, dependent prayer? Are you casting your cares on Him, knowing He cares for you? As a grateful child of a faithful Father, do you intentionally stop to give Him thanks as you see Him answer?