From Longing To Praise

By Kristen Hollis

“Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, ‘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.’ As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, ‘How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.’ ‘Not so, my lord,’ Hannah 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. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.’ Eli answered, ‘Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.’ She said, ‘May your servant find favor in your eyes.’ Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’”—1 Samuel 1:9–20 (NIV)

Have you ever felt deep longing for something. . . something that weighed so heavily on your heart you couldn’t help but bring it before God? That’s where we find Hannah. Year after year, she carried the ache of barrenness, pouring out her soul to the Lord in tears. What seemed like an ordinary act—one woman praying in the temple—became the spark of something extraordinary. God heard her cry and gave her a son, Samuel, who would grow up to lead a nation and anoint Israel’s first kings.

Centuries later, another woman lifted her voice in praise. Mary, an unknown young woman from Nazareth, was chosen to carry the Messiah. Her Magnificat in Luke 1:46–45 echoes Hannah’s song; both women moved from sorrow to joy, from waiting to worship. Their stories remind us that God’s not distant from our feelings. He meets us in our pain, our hopes, and our prayers, transforming them into something far greater than we can imagine.

When we bring our honest emotions before God and choose to act in faith, He takes those ordinary expressions—our tears, prayers, and praise—and writes them into His extraordinary story of redemption.

So today, don’t hide what you feel or hold back from doing what God prompts. Cry out to Him. Sing to Him. Obey Him. He still delights in taking the heartfelt offerings of ordinary people and turning them into songs of extraordinary praise.

Put It To Practice: Meditate

Biblical meditation is about filling your mind with God’s Word, not emptying it. Practice meditating on Scripture by reading it as a family or with friends, individually, out loud, and quietly. Let God’s Word soak in your mind and heart, and then pray the Scripture. Do this today with the song of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1–10.

For the Family

Today’s Main Idea: God transforms our heartfelt prayers and faithful actions into extraordinary praise.

Ask Together:

1. When you feel sad or really want something, how can you talk to God about it like Hannah did?
2. What’s one way you can thank and praise God when He answers your prayers?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for meeting me in every feeling and every moment. Teach me to trust You with my heart and to act in faith. Turn my prayers into praise. Amen.