The book of Samuel opens with a story of a man named Elkanah who had two wives, Hanna and Peninnah. Peninnah had children while Hannah was barren. 1 Samuel 1:6 informs us that Peninnah would tease Hannah and upset her because she could not bear children. This was a huge concern to Hannah until she decided to pour out her heart in prayer to the Lord in Shiloh at the temple. This reminds me of the old hymn that says: “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear because we do not take it to the Lord in prayer”. Hannah took the matter to God in prayer. Instead of nursing pain and anger in your heart, learn to cast your burden to the Lord in prayer. 1 Samuel 1:10-11 records of Hannah’s heavy heart in prayer: “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”.

Our theme scripture depicts a remarkable attitude in Hannah after she had prayed. It says, “So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad”. This is the attitude of one who receives answers from God. This was faith in display in the Old Testament. The way she left Shiloh was different from the way she came. She came with a heavy heart of concern and she left with a light heart knowing that her case was settled with the righteous Judge. Though there was no immediate physically observable change, she knew the matter was settled and she behaved accordingly. 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) enjoins us, “casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. When you cast the load of care on the Lord, don’t take it back. Hannah was no longer sad showing us that she was never carrying that load of care. In Mark 11:24 (ESV) the Lord Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”. This means after prayer, act in a way that shows you have received. This is what Hannah did. It didn’t take long before she became pregnant and later gave birth to Samuel. Let this be your attitude and you will receive answers always. This is