To get up from praying to God and know He has done it, to know it is done: Oh, what faith!
As I read through Hannah’s bitterness, anger, grief, even when she did not eat, I saw that she went and prayed and wept unto God. Immediately, she surrendered and made confession. She repented. I saw her completely give self to Him, trusting He would move on her behalf. I saw her faith in going to God in prayer, weeping to Him.
“So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my Lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:9-20 KJV).
Hannah rose up from prayer. She went her way and ate. Her countenance was no longer sad! She was no longer that bitter, angry woman. She was now confident. By faith, she had prayed. By faith, she went away and ate, trusting God heard her, trusting that it was done.
God opened up her womb! God answered her, for she gave up. She surrendered all to God. She vowed to God. So it was that God blessed her. And she kept her vow to God. God later blessed her with more children.
The just shall live by faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. If we do anything not in faith, it is sin.
By faith, let us choose to give up self to God daily! By faith, let us seek Him for the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. And we shall overcome, as Christ overcame.
By faith, we are saved through grace. God’s grace is imparted by our faith. Faith is the key.