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Hannah
Hannah’s prayer was a true example of faith. She displayed such courage to entrust God with a child she had not yet conceived.
During her barren years, Hannah’s prayer stood the test of time. She displayed the ability to push past what she could see and pray for what she could not see.
I recently found a prayer of mine asking God to grant me the ability to bear a child during my struggle with infertility. This reminded me of Hannah and how she prayed for a son, and God granted her that request after she had been barren for so long.
She promised God she would dedicate her child back to Him for the rest of his life if He would grant that prayer. True to her word, she dedicated her son, Samuel, to the Lord.
This brought up an unsettling thought: could I do the same thing if I were her? My fear as a parent to protect my child from unforeseen things is overwhelming.
I wonder if Hannah felt the same fear for her son, her only child at that moment. I often think back to my childhood when I had nightmares and my grandma would pray for me.
In her prayers, she would ask the Lord to bless my conscious and subconscious mind, to shield me from the seen and unseen.
If she could have, she would have taken those fears away, especially since they followed me into adulthood.
Protecting
Shop All Bible StudiesNow faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KVJ
Hannah’s prayer consisted of her asking God to trust her with a child, a son, and to bless her with the ability to conceive and carry on the lineage.
With that trust, she made a vow to give her only child, Samuel, back to God. This meant taking him to the temple to serve God for the rest of his life.
I admire what Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, said to her when she stayed behind to wean Samuel: “May the Lord help you keep your promise” (1 Samuel 1:23, NLT).
He understood better than anyone how dear the child was to her, the struggle she endured, and the magnitude of the sacrifice she was making.
Reflecting on Hannah’s story, and her prayer, I find myself thinking about my fears and responsibilities as a parent.
The fear of not being able to protect my child is overwhelming. Yet, Hannah’s story teaches me about trust and faith.
She trusted God with her most precious gift, believing He would protect and guide Samuel.
Fear to Faith
However, the fear of not being able to protect my children at all times is ever-present. It helps me recognize just how limited I am. It reminds me that it’s not my place to shield them from everything. Yes, my job is to love, guide, instruct, and protect them. This is only from the things God has given me the wisdom to handle. It is His job to be the ultimate protector. If not, I might try to play God in my children’s lives.
As I lay awake at night wishing I could take away every bad dream and fear from her. I am reminded of Hannah’s prayer. That God entrusted me with this child, so I shouldn’t allow what I cannot control to worry me. Doing my part to watch over her and pray with her. When she comes to me scared of something, we recite 2 Timothy 1:7. (KJV): “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.” I encourage her that she has the power to overcome fear with the love God has given her. Knowing that this knowledge should grant her a sound mind.
New Prayer
My new prayer for my daughter, and any future children I may bear, is that God grants them peace of mind that surpasses all understanding. Not just in their conscious mind but also in their subconscious mind, shielding them from dangers seen and unseen. I pray that He guides them into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him, and that they come to understand that whatever we think we have accomplished in this life by our own measure or means is a misconception.
We are simply borrowing every ability and gift from God. It is our responsibility to give back everything that God has entrusted to us by entrusting Him with it. This leads me to place my trust in God, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that He knows all things and will surely keep my children in every possible way. I pray that He perfects those things that concern me (Psalm 138:8).
While we can’t shield our children from every harm, we can prepare ourselves, trust in our instincts, and have faith in God’s protection and guidance. Remembering that we are stewards of our children, entrusted by God to care for and love them, can help alleviate some of the fear.