I have been on a prayer journey for several decades. I prayed to receive Jesus when I was five, and the conversation has continued to this very day. I actually prayed that this short article would open your eyes and ears to the stunning privilege of talking with God and listening for his voice, no matter what we face. I would invite you (and I really mean this) to pause right now and breathe out a simple prayer: “God of the Universe, help me see that prayer is bigger and more beautiful than I dream.”
When I was in college in my senior year, all of my roommates were planning their futures with their boyfriends, and some were even planning weddings. I was praying that I could meet a great man. Sometimes, through tears, I would boldly whisper to my Savior, “Maybe you could speed up the process a bit.” Sometime later, God brought my husband, Kevin, and me together, and my years of prayer set the stage for a clear awareness that God was at work. We both knew we would marry each other before our first date. By God’s grace, we have been serving the Lord together in church ministry, an evangelistic ministry, and our writing ministry for more than four decades, and we still really like each other. I have learned that a life saturated in prayer is the best life possible. God does not always answer as we desire or in our timing, but it is always right to talk with God about everything.
Women's Prayers in the Bible
Over the past year, I have immersed myself in studying and writing about women in the Bible and their prayer lives. I actually read the entire Bible for the explicit purpose of seeing what I could learn from every woman who encountered God. This fruitful learning experience has become a fascinating and impactful study titled Praying with Women of the Bible for 30 Days. It digs deeply into the lives of 29 women (or groups of women). There are 29 women rather than 30 because Hannah’s story (1 Samuel 1-2) has two stunning prayer stories that deserve our attention. It is these two prayers of Hannah’s that I want to ponder together.
Hannah's First Prayer
Hannah prayed from the deepest valley of despair and also from the highest mountain of praise. The first prayer we hear this dear sister lift came from the pit of sorrow. Emotional pain and crushed dreams, over time, can lead a person to resent and reject God. Hannah endured year after year of indescribable disappointment. She was unable to conceive a child, and her rival, Peninnah, would not give her a moment of peace.
Hannah cried to the Lord tenaciously. She may have been asking God to open her womb and give her a son for a decade or even longer. What a relentless spirit! Hannah’s closed womb did not close her heart. Instead, she kept drawing near to God with prayers, moans, and cries for help. Her pain did not drive her from God but caused her to draw near her Savior. Instead of burying her sorrow, she entrusted her deepest pain to the only one who could help her.
Hannah's Second Prayer
The second prayer we hear our sister Hannah lift comes after Hannah has a baby (Samuel, a future prophet of God) in her arms. She lifts these words to heaven:
"My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God."
1 Samuel 2:1–2
What an example of big prayer! Crying honestly to God is for the highs and the lows of life. Our God is faithful and trustworthy when we get what we ask of him and when he wisely says, “no,” or “wait.” Hannah’s prayer journey through the valleys of sorrow and heights of celebration stands as a beautiful example for all of us who ride the roller coaster of life. Pain, loss, and difficult times of waiting should lead us to prayer. When God answers prayer, when dreams come true, when provision is opulent, when community is sweet—these moments call us to cries of praise.
God Can Handle All of Our Prayers
As your prayer life grows bigger and bigger, recognize that God can handle your honesty. Stop and think about what you are saying when you lock up your frustration and swallow your sorrow. God can handle your honest expressions of pain and anger. God searches your heart and nothing is hidden from his eyes. Since God knows everything, don’t hold back. It is time to start praying with new levels of honesty and vulnerability.
From the depths of lament and honest expression of pain, pray to God. When sailing is smooth and blessings are near and surprising, thank God and celebrate. Prayer is bigger and better than we dream because every moment of life is the perfect time to talk with our Maker. If you want to enter a journey of prayer that will expand your faith, understanding of prayer, and communication with your Savior, I invite you to join me as we learn from women of faith found all over the pages of the Bible.