Hannah

Hannah was an Israelite woman who longed for a child and endured years of cruel taunts from her husband's other wife. At the tabernacle in Shiloh, she poured out her grief in a silent prayer so intense that the priest Eli mistook her for being drunk. After hearing her explanation, Eli blessed her request. Hannah later gave birth to Samuel and kept the promise she had made by dedicating him to God's service. Her willingness to return the son she had prayed for demonstrated remarkable trust and gratitude. Through her experience, Camilla Parker sees that worship is not empty routine. It can involve honest sorrow, patient listening, costly obedience, and confidence that God hears even unspoken prayers.