“I’m praying for you” is a familiar phrase that you have either given to someone, or they’ve given to you, with the intent to bring comfort. While it is encouraging to know that someone is thinking of you along with their own list of requests to the Lord, those four words can be the extent of many people’s attempt at comfort. Even when they do remember to pray, the text message gets sent, the prayer is offered up, and the person’s need is forgotten more quickly than a balloon can ascend out of sight.
Sure, we’re busy. But I don’t want the busyness of life and the distractions of social media to corrode one of the most essential elements to our spiritual walk. Prayer is too often an untapped resource and even when used, often it’s without persistent or confident expectation (a.k.a. faith).
As I scroll through Instagram and Facebook, what I see grieves me. Lives are lost to gun violence, miscarriages, substance abuse, or suffocating depression, leading to suicide. Devastating weather destroys homes and whole cities. Political views create a volatile divide between people that are supposed to be united. You name it, because you see it too.
In these moments, is prayer the first thing we run to or the last if we use it at all? When a tragedy happens, do we see prayer as insufficient or the moment as “too late” to call on God? Have we become numb to the things we see, to where we simply sigh and say, “It’s just the world we live in”? Is “praying” just a passing thought without seizing that moment to really give our pain and worries to the Lord? Where have we placed (or misplaced) our faith?
“Where have we placed (or misplaced) our faith?”
There are over 650 scriptures referencing prayers in the Bible and 25 prayers are from Jesus.[1] Some of the favorite examples of prayers in the Bible are as follows: Almost everyone knows the “Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6, and some know the blessing prayer in Numbers 6. James 5:16 tells us to confess and pray to each other so we can be healed because a righteous person’s prayer is effective. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to not be anxious about anything but through prayer and petition present our request to God so the peace of God can be with us. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances. The list goes on and on.
Do you know why we might read these scriptures during difficult times but still be left praying less and more anxious than ever? I believe we are missing a vital ingredient shown in the first chapter of 1 Samuel, which tells the story of the prophet Samuel’s mother Hannah. Props to Jackie Hill Perry for breaking this Scripture down in a way that changed my perspective about prayer.
A man named Elkanah had two wives named Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children and Hannah didn’t (1 Samuel 1:1-2). Peninnah was provoking Hannah because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb. Hannah was in distress because of Peninnah and would weep and cease to eat until one day she went to the Lord’s house to pray to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:3-9).
“Do you know why we might read these scriptures during difficult times but still be left praying less and more anxious than ever?”
Weeping bitterly, she made a vow to the Lord that if He granted her a son she would give him to the Lord for all his life and let no razor touch his head. Eli the priest thought she was drunk, but once she was open about her grief, he told her to go in peace and let God grant her what she asked for. She went in peace no longer downcast (1 Samuel 1:12-18). After some time, the Lord remembered her request, and she became pregnant and called her son Samuel “because I asked the Lord for him” (1 Samuel 1:19-20).
Hannah’s problem was that she was barren. When I say problem, I’m not saying barrenness is something to be ashamed of. For those struggling with infertility, it can be agonizing, and it’s more common than you’d think. But even if it is something to grieve, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
An interesting detail is found in verses 5 and 6, which says that “the Lord closed her womb.” So, where did Hannah go with her barrenness? She went to the One who could do something about it. Do you bring your problems to the One who can do something about it?
“Do you bring your problems to the One who can do something about it?”
Hannah prayed to the Lord, praying the grief and anguish that had built up inside of her. He was the One who closed up her womb, after all, and the One who could open it again. What makes Hannah different from most of us is that when we are mad at God, we tend to run away from Him. Hannah ran toward Him because she trusted that God could handle it. He can handle your pain and anger toward Him too.
Ever realize how strange Hannah’s vow to the Lord is? Typically, when you pray for something, it’s in hopes that you can keep it. Hannah prayed for a son in order to give him right back to the Lord. Do we realize that what the Lord blesses us with isn’t ours? The money, the job, the children, the house? It’s all God’s, and Hannah took the extra step to give her son for the Lord’s service.
When Eli accused her of being drunk, Hannah responded in a way I don’t think I would have in a frustrating situation. Instead of putting up walls, she was open about her struggle and what she was doing about it. This is a response of humble vulnerability, the kind that could change someone’s attitude and view of you.
“Hannah ran toward Him because she trusted that God could handle it. He can handle your pain and anger toward Him too.”
A few weeks ago, my church heard a sermon about being devoted to and united by prayer. I was inspired hearing about the powerful prayer life of a man in Sierra Leone, Africa, named Shodankeh Johnson. He prays all hours of the day either by himself, with his family, or with his ministry. I was challenged by my lack of intention when I prayed and I was compelled to make an immediate change.
Once a week around 8:00 a.m, my husband and I along with our small group FaceTime each other to pray for our future church plant, mission trip, church leaders, reaching out, and the personal problems in our lives. It is one of my favorite things I look forward to every week. Do you know what it says Hannah did in 1 Samuel 1:13? She was praying in her heart. Do we pray intentionally with our hearts connected—or disconnected, simply in order to check off a box? When Eli told her to go in peace, it’s amazing that she actually did.
I believe this is an ingredient often missing in our prayers. She went her way, ate something (which was a response of worship to God), and was no longer downcast—before she was given her son. Do we pray with confident expectation that when we say “Amen” (which means “let it be” in Hebrew) that we truly do that? That we leave our prayers with uplifted and joyful hearts knowing whose hand is taking care of us? Or do we leave our prayers still mad or numb, and unbelieving of change?
“When Eli told her to go in peace, it’s amazing that she actually did.”
James 1:2-4 tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds not because the trial is fun and easy, but because it tests our faith to produce perseverance. Prayer is powerful and can change our attitudes. It should be the first thing out of our mouths in bad times as well as good times. Pray for your family, friends, coworkers, church, city, state, country, and world. I believe that the more we tap into the power of prayer, the more we will see God’s fingerprint in every area of our lives. So, let’s pray.
Father, I pray for the person reading this article that it will change them as much as writing it has changed me. Our world is hurting in unimaginable ways, and it grieves you. Give us the eyes to see the world the way you see it. Give us hearts to hurt the way that you hurt and despise sin the way that you despise sin, so that we will come to you more than ever in prayer. Help our faith in prayer and in you grow so that we can be like Hannah and have confident expectation that you are who you say you are. Thank you for the blessings and thank you for the trials. In your Son’s name, Amen.
[1] “How Many Times Is Prayer Mentioned in the Bible?” Tithe.ly, https://get.tithe.ly/blog/how-many-times-is-prayer-mentioned-in-the-bible.
