Hanna was barren and her rival Peninnah kept provoking her in order to irritate her. Peninnah was the other wife of Hanna's husband and year after year Hanna would suffer humiliations from her rival.The barrenness of Hanna cam be applied to the barrenness of all areas of our life; how many of us need something that is very important and dear to our hearts but the doors seems to be closed and all that we receive is provocation and humiliation from others?
Peninnah was a bad situation in Hanna's life, she was the "other woman" of her husband Elkana and a woman who were having all the children of Elkana. Though Elkana would love much more Hanna then Peninnah, Peninnah would hurt Hanna to the point of making Hanna cry and stop eating.
1Samuel 1:8 says Elkana her husband would say to her, "Hanna, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"
But in bitterness of soul Hanna wept much and prayed to the Lord. Hanna was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard.
Year after year Hanna would go Shiloh to worship the Lord and every year her rival would humiliate her, but Hanna never stop believing in God and when she could not stand to her suffering anymore, she prayed as she never prayed before and she even made a vow to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:11 "O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon 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."
This is an example of great praying. It is the prayer that stops not till it is fully satisfied with praying. Many of our prayers do not reach anywhere because we do not persist in praying. Or our need has not so burdened us that we cannot but keep on praying. But prayer like that Hannah now prayed storms the fortress of heaven. It is such praying that prevails with God.
All of us may have some "Peninnahs" in our life, it can be a disease, a marriage problem or a coworker who stole your idea and your promotion, or slanders that may lie and dirt your name and reputation or even a financial bankruptcy that make you to simply lose everything.
Hanna was praying and worshiping before, but her prayer wasn't bringing any result until the day she really pour down her heart in such intense prayer that the prophet Eli thought that she was drunk! 1Samuel 1:14 How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."
She wasn't definitely praying just any how, she was praying with intensity and with bitterness towards her situation.
"Not so, my Lord," Hanna 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." 1 Samuel 1: 15
Very often the Lord does not listen to our prayers because our words are been mere shallow words. God gives premium value to this quality of prayer that Hanna was pouring before Him.
After saying that the prophet blessed Hanna, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked him." 1 Samuel 1: 17
Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. 1 Samuel 1;18
It was an act of faith, She believed that the Lord answered her prayer. She changed the appearance of her face and continue her way. she was no longer sad. She received the assurance that her prayer was answered.
This is the assurance that we get in prayer. Even when there is no visible sign of the answer to our prayer we will no longer be downcast. We will find strength to go about our daily activities as if we had already got the answer from God.
Early the next morning they arose and worship before the Lord and then went back to their home in Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hanna his wife, and the Lord REMEMBERED HER. So in the course of time Hanna conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel. 1 Samuel 1:19-20
There will be "Peninnahs" always in our ways, people who will try to put us down, people or situations that will hurt and humiliate us. But we have to learn from Hanna, she poured out her soul before the Lord and even made a vow to the Lord.
Then Hanna prayed and said: "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." 1 Samuel 2:1
Please Check this link below testimonies of people who received a miracle in their lives by faith.
http://impdfilipinas.blogspot.com/p/testimonies_05.html
May God bless us all
