Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. – 1 Samuel 1:13
In the ancient world, a woman’s ability to have children, and especially to provide her husband with a son, was considered an expression of God’s favor and blessing. But a woman’s inability to have children was absolutely crushing. Not only was she forced to carry the burden of never having children of her own, but the culture at that time often viewed her barrenness as a sign of divine disfavor or curse, leading to social stigma, shame, and diminished status within her community.
This was the heavy burden Hannah carried. Scripture tells us that “the Lord had closed her womb” (1 Samuel 1:5). To make matters worse, her rival, Peninnah – her husband Elkanah’s other wife – had already borne him children, a constant reminder of Hannah’s pain.
*Important Disclaimer!*(Although polygamy was an accepted practice in ancient times, it was not part of God’s design nor did He sanction it.)
Year after year, as the family traveled to Shiloh for the annual religious festival, Hannah endured Penninah’s cruel mocking and taunting. Yet at this particular festival, something shifted. After the meal, the Bible tells us, “Hannah stood up” (1 Samuel 1:9). This small detail might seem insignificant, but I think it speaks volumes. Hannah didn’t remain seated, weighed down by despair. She rose to her feet – physically and spiritually – to pour out her heart to God. In her anguish, she prayed silently, her lips moving but her voice unheard, pleading, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on 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, and no razor will ever be used on his head” (1:11).
Hannah’s act of standing up wasn’t just a physical movement, it was a bold declaration of her faith. She was desperate, yes, but her desperation drove her to the One who could answer. Her silent prayer, mistaken by Eli the priest for drunkenness, was a raw, heartfelt cry to God. It reminds me of King Hezekiah, who when told by the prophet Isaiah that his illness would lead to death, turned his face to the wall and wept bitterly in prayer (Isaiah 38:2). Like Hannah, Hezekiah’s fervent plea moved God’s heart, and God extended his life.
Sometimes, God invites us to “stand up” in our prayers… to go beyond routine words and show Him the depth of our longing. Hannah’s silent, desperate prayer was real and authentic. She laid her brokenness before God, trusting Him with her deepest pain. And God heard her. He answered, giving her a son named Samuel, who would grow up and become a prophet and a great leader in Israel.
What burden are you carrying today? What longing keeps you awake at night? God sees your pain. He hears your voice, even when it’s not heard by others. He invites you to stand up in faith – to bring your raw, honest, and desperate prayers to Him. Your words don’t have to be perfect… God’s not seeking your eloquence, He’s seeking your heart, wanting you to trust Him enough to lay it all bare in front of Him.
“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” – Charles H. Spurgeon
Former Blackout Artist 