The Prayer of Hannah

⁹Once 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. ¹⁰ In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. ¹¹ 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.”

 check 1 Samuel 1 for all references

 Let's admit it, it's a weird situation. Imagine a dinner party. Just after dessert, when everyone is still drinking coffee, a woman stands up at the table and starts talking to herself... crying. It evokes this reaction from the host:

(vv.14) “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” 

It was probably quite well intended. But he couldn't have guessed how deeply troubled Hanna was. Maybe she overheard a conversation at the table about babies. Maybe there was a pregnant lady in the company. Maybe her rival was giving her a hard time with sneaky comments again (v 7). Maybe the atmosphere reminded her of a family that she so desperately wanted. She already had a wonderful marriage (vv 4-8), and it was primal and natural that she also wanted a baby.

What would drive a sensible, mature, content woman to make a fool of herself at a dinner party? 
You can fill in your own answer here. But what would it take for you to do this, to only offer an underbreath prayer to God not even taking into consideration that people will misunderstand. 

I laugh often with a friend of mine, because we notice a lot of people on public transportation talking to themselves. It's funny, but sad at the same time; I think this posh, high-paced city has a big hole in its heart that hungers for quality relationships.  
But in Hannah's case, she was at a dinner party. She didn't have to invent a friend to talk to. Something was so heavy on her heart, that in the second when the glass spilled over, she had to stand up and pray. Regardless. Crying.

I love the conversations with Eli that follows:

¹⁵ “Not so, my lord,” 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. ¹⁶ Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
¹⁷ Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
¹⁸ 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.

She offers a very simple, heart-breaking, honest explanation (doesn't explode in self-defense). Eli seems so moved, that he gives her a blessing for her request, although he doesn't have the slightest clue what it's about. 
And in v.18 comes the punchline moment. She took that blessing so seriously... I can see her widening her eyes open in pleasant surprise, and saying 'Thank you', as if Eli himself had already granted her prayer. She took it so seriously that 'her face was no longer downcast'.

¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ 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.”

I've read and heard many sermons and devotionals on Hannah's faith. But here is the simple beauty of the case that stands out to me: 
She was very much in touch with her inner life, her feelings and desires. Quite honestly, I think she over-did it. But when she received the blessing from Eli, she took it as an answer to her prayer. That's faith. It brought her peace, joy, and a healthy appetite. The peace cleared her heart so that she could focus on worship, and later on her husband, and these two are of utmost importance to God.

I love it! She believed so much it gave her peace like she'd already received the response. She didn't need a "fleece-sign", like some people. She didn't need a rational explanation why God will deliver. Haha, she didn't even need a sermon on Abraham's faith, who was in a similar situation. She heard the priest giving her a blessing, for her prayer out of a deeply troubled soul. 

How much persuasion do we need from God, ladies? 
How many people does it take to convince us of God's faithfulness? 
How seriously do we take God's promises when we read them alone, behind the closed door?

Hannah's fragile trust puts my disbelief to shame. At the same time, she gives me hope. It seems faith is much simpler than I thought. 

Silvija P., Düsseldorf