Nougat 30

Hannah responded with pure humility. I wonder how Eli felt for falsely accusing her. There was no doubt she wasn’t drunk. Her conversation was lucid, and to our knowledge, she didn’t emit odours. That notwithstanding, her response was connected to her prayer. Today’s Holy Nougat tells us what ensued.

‭1 Samuel 1:16-17 NIV‬

[16] Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

[17] Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

The Power and Place of Prayer

Pray Until Something Happens

Up until Eli responded positively, there was a sense in which ‘something’ hadn’t happened. Not in a direct way. Her anguish begged for God’s yes, but God could also have opted to say no. Eli’s incorrect judgement was not an answer, although it was a response. His assurance, on the other hand, was a clear answer.

Sometimes, when we pray, there are responses that would distract us. We may find that if we focus on those, we miss the blessing God has laid up for us because we lose hope or we stop pursuing our request. With her soft answer, Hannah convinced Eli of her earnestness, and he spoke into her life. Some would say luck, I believe it’s faith and humility.

Now, I know we’ve noted that Eli did not ‘grant her her request’. It wasn’t in his power to do so. What he did was affirm her request by endorsing it. In my opinion, Eli’s comment indicated his understanding of the gravity of the prayer. He still didn’t know what the prayer was. So while ‘something happened’, it had to be taken at face value as the proof that God heard her.

Whether Hannah believed or not remains to be seen; but even if she did, the actual proof of her request would take at least another 9 months to come to pass. Hannah wanted her own child, not an adopted or foster child. Likewise, when we pray, hearing a ‘Yes’ doesn’t mean that we see the tangible proof right away.

More on that tomorrow.

On another note,

Thanks once again for your support over these 9 years. By God’s grace, we’ve flourished, and I pray God sends the right support team to move Holy Nougat ministries forward in faith. May the Nougats continue to inspire you and your networks, wherever they are shared.

God bless you.

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May all we seek be found in Christ