As I read the beginning of 1 Samuel recently, there was a lesson from Hannah that stood out to me. It wasn’t the one we often think about when we consider Hannah praying for a baby and then God answering that prayer. This lesson revolved around control or better put, lack of control, and then complete faith with a living trust in God.

If you aren’t familiar with the story of Hannah, you can read it in 1 Samuel chapter one. In Hannah’s desire for a son, this is what she prays: “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” (1 Samuel 1:10-11). 

When Hannah prayed that prayer, she literally meant she would physically give her son to the Lord by letting the priest raise him. When God gave Hannah her son, after he was weaned, she took him to the priest and left him there. At that moment she lost all personal control of her son’s life while he was still a very young child. All she had to keep her from falling apart over that was faith in God and trust that He was in control. 

I think most moms, whether their children are young or adults, tend to worry anytime things are happening that are out of Mom’s control. It might be a child’s illness, a teen’s rebellion, a young adult walking away from the Lord, or adult children making, at least in Mom’s opinion, bad decisions. There are just so many things that cause us concern and are out of our control.

Hannah loses all control over her son, and here’s what she does at that point. She prays. What does she pray? I would have thought she would implore God to take care of her son, to watch over him in her absence, to help him learn to walk uprightly with God, to grow in stature and wisdom, to be healthy – al the things mothers pray for their children. But no! That’s not her prayer. Instead her prayer is all about God. She exalts and worships God! Nine verses of her prayer are recorded in 1 Samuel 2: 1-9. Here is the first part: “And Hannah prayed, and said,  My heart rejoiceth in the LORD,  mine horn is exalted in the LORD:  my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies;  because I rejoice in thy salvation” (1 Samuel 2:1).

That’s where I believe our lesson comes. We let go. We truly let go, not still trying to control by always praying for how and what we think should happen. We let go by focusing on God, worshipping Him, and walking in faith and trust. 

I am not saying we don’t pray at all about our concerns, but I am suggesting that we learn from Hannah not to make that the overriding emphasis of our prayers. Instead how about lifting those cares to Him, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Then move to praising the One Who takes care of all those cares you cast on Him. “I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable” (Psalms 145:1-3). 

Try it. See what happens.