The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 & 2 is a beautiful, absolutely relatable one. From the moment we read about her, we see the pain and struggles she is facing. No less than 7 times, we see the misery that Hannah is experiencing from her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, because Hannah cannot have a child (1:6-10,15-16). And while this story is truly heartbreaking at times, it is equally inspiring and exciting. If you haven’t lately, re-read 1 Samuel 1 & 2 and refresh your memory on the story of Hannah, the girl who prayed. From her, I think we learn three (and so many more!) valuable lessons:

1: Hannah kept worshiping.

Peninnah was making life miserable. The Bible tells us that “year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked [Hannah].” So let’s get this straight: not only is Peninnah relentlessly making fun of Hannah because she cannot bear a child, but she is doing so at WORSHIP? Talk about being there for the wrong reason! On top of that, Eli starts rebuking Hannah for being drunk, even though she is really just praying to her God! Talk about something that would discourage you from worshiping there–when the priest misjudges you and harasses you for praying vehemently. Yet, doesn’t the same thing happen today?

There are people who use the assembly of the saints to air dirty laundry, confront someone with an issue they are having, give dirty looks, talk bad about someone, or even make fun of those who have penitent hearts. While there is absolutely no excuse for these people doing this (and they have no right to do so anywhere, anytime), we cannot control what people do. We cannot control the things that so-called Christians say or do to us and about us, even though we so desperately wish that we could. Instead, we simply control the way we respond. If we are responding correctly, chances are we’re responding like Hannah: with prayer and perseverance, continuing to worship as we should.

I have known of those (and you probably have as well) who say that the church is made up of hypocrites and use that as an excuse not to worship God. Here’s the thing, though: how much sense does it make to let someone who is “hypocritical” (and thus away from God) have a closer relationship with God than you do? Don’t let imperfect people (and the church is made up of those) keep you from worshiping the perfect Father. I absolutely pray that you will not encounter hateful, hurtful people when you go to worship the Father, but if you do, respond as Hannah did. Continue to worship. Continue to endure such verbal persecution. Don’t give up on God.

2: Prayer is the answer to all of life’s problems.

We see that Hannah’s misery was well-noted in the inspired scripture, but prayer is another key element to her story. While she is afflicted to the point of much-weeping and no eating, Hannah is still devoted to her Lord, even through intense persecution. In 1 Samuel 1:6, the Bible tells us, “And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb.” yet by verse 18 we read, “And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”

Woah, what happened? What happened was prayer. From verses 10-17 we read 7 different words or phrases associated with prayer. Seven different associations in 8 verses. Obviously prayer was an integral part of Hannah’s story!  On top of that, when we read that she went away and was no longer sad, that’s before she even knew her prayer was answered! Talk about trust!

Once I heard Dan Winkler say, “Don’t be an indian giver with God.” Give Him your problems and don’t take them back! How easy would it have been for Hannah to pray, but then hold on to her grief and bitterness and anxiety? She doesn’t do that though, and neither should we! When going through a trial or time of extreme persecution, bear your soul to the Lord, but trust Him to take care of you. Trust that He will deliver you from your grief (Psalm 34:17).

3: Giving to God makes everything better.

Hannah had gone through years of suffering and torment because she couldn’t have a child. She had prayed and prayed and prayed for God to give her a child, promising to give that child back to God if He would only answer her. It’s obvious that Hannah wanted a child desperately, and would do anything to have one.

So how easy was it for Hannah to give that child back to God? Surely it was a temptation to say, ‘well, God gave me this child, and He wouldn’t have if He didn’t want me to keep it.’ That’s not what Hannah did, though. In 1 Samuel 1:24-28 we read that Hannah takes her son back to Eli and gives him to the Lord. After all of those years of prayer and suffering, Hannah gives up the one thing she’d wanted. How?!

I think the answer is pretty simple, and one that is fleshed out in our lives today. When you give something to God, you don’t ever regret it. When you give Him all of your anxiety and care, you don’t regret not trying to work things out on your own. When you give God your time and talent, you don’t ever regret teaching that class or taking more time to train your children. When you give God your money, you don’t ever regret not going out to eat or going on vacation so that that missionary could teach people the gospel message and baptize souls and change their eternal destiny. Nothing you could ever give to God would be a regret, and the same was true for Hannah. She gave her child to God, and I don’t think she regretted it for a moment. Immediately after giving her son to Eli, she prays and says, “My heart rejoices in the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:1). She wasn’t sad. She wasn’t miserable like she had been. Instead, she rejoiced that her son could serve the Lord who had given him to her all the days of his life.

When you go through something, remember to pray, but also remember to give back to God. When God answers your prayer–delivers you out of that dark time–give something to Him. Offer Him the fruit of your lips, give of your time to further His kingdom, send your child to a Bible-drenched camp or youth rally. God is so good, and so faithful to deliver us. Let us not be slack in giving back to Him.