TEXT:

‘Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head’ (1 Samuel 1:11).

1 Samuel starts with this wonderful account of Hannah achieving her breakthrough. How do we react when we have the promise from God, but it remains an unanswered prayer? There are six things Today’s Teaching considers as we study, “Praying the Prayer of Breakthrough”.

1. Problem – ‘Hannah had no children … the Lord had closed her womb’

It wasn’t that she was physically incapable of birthing a child, she just couldn’t conceive. She felt in herself that everything was okay, yet month after month, year after year, no conception. The promise of God concerning childbearing remained unfulfilled, ‘Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward’ (Psalm 127:3).

You may have a different problem and promise. Naturally there doesn’t seem to be a reason why you cannot receive the answer. How quickly that kind of scenario can lead into depression.

2. Portion – ‘But to Hannah he would give a double-portion’

Elkanah tried to cheer Hannah up by giving her a double portion. He really loved Hannah but because she couldn’t bear a son, he got another wife and that must have really hurt. Even when Elkanah said he was better to her than ten sons, it did little to ease her feelings of inadequacy and failure. We can be surrounded by a fortune, yet it usually means very little when there’s an unfulfilled yearning.

3. Persecution – ‘Peninnah made matters worse by taunting Hannah because of her barrenness. Every year it was the same—Peninnah scoffing and laughing at her as they went to Shiloh, making her cry so much she couldn’t eat’ (1 Samuel 1:6-7 TLB).

Perhaps back at the house it was not so bad, for Hannah could retreat to her room, but in Shiloh they were all together and Peninnah never let Hannah forget who was the one blessed by God with children, sons and daughters but most importantly, an heir for her husband.

We’re usually very good at condemning ourselves, but when others join in, it can become unbearable. Hannah’s grief was so strong she had to get away from them all and cry alone.

4. Prayer – ‘She was in deep anguish and was crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: “O Lord of heaven, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you, and he’ll be yours for his entire lifetime, and his hair shall never be cut”’ (1 Samuel 1:10-11 TLB).

Something changed! She prayed in a way she had never prayed before. It had always been “Give me”. Now she was willing to give back the gift to the Giver. The problem wasn’t that Hannah was barren; she couldn’t conceive because God had closed her womb. The time for her to bear children had not been right. Jesus came in the fulness of time (see Galatians 4:4), so did Samuel. It was “Yes but not yet” in the plans and purposes of God, because something had to change in her before there was a breakthrough.

Have you been asking and asking over the years, but the heavens seem as brass and God doesn’t answer? Maybe it’s time to wait in God’s presence and be willing to change what you have been praying for.

 5. Promise – ‘In that case,” Eli said, “cheer up! May the Lord of Israel grant you your petition, whatever it is!’ (1 Samuel 1:17 TLB)

Something dropped into her heart the moment Eli spoke. ‘Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God’ (Romans 10:17). Hannah said, “I’ve got it” and immediately her face changed from sadness to joy. You can’t be sad when you know you’ve got the promise! She heard God speak to her through Eli, and the matter was settled there and then. She would have a son after all!

6. Praise – 1 Samuel 2:1-10

The Bible refers to this as “Hannah’s Prayer”, but in it she never asked for anything. She only declared who God is and praised Him for His goodness, power and protection. Some Christians find it difficult to praise, instead they are always asking and complaining. It’s time there was much more praise in the house of God, for God is a good God!

‘Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name’ (Hebrews 13:15).

The Bible is full of people who waited a long time for God respond to their prayer, even to the point where they had lost hope that it would ever be answered, but God hadn’t forgotten them. He will not forget you either.

Remember, ‘He is able to do far more exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20).

It’s time for another heart to heart with the Lord and let Him turn your tears into joy!