To Transform Our Lives, Our Families, Ourselves
I believe one of the most effectual undertakings we can pursue on behalf of our families, both of our children and ourselves, is to persevere in prayer for them. As we continue in prayer we will observe the wonder of God’s intervention in our circumstances, and also we will experience the reality of His transformative power in our lives.
“Prayer changes who?”
We’ve all heard the maxim “prayer changes things.” Usually, what we hope that means is that prayer refashions our circumstances to suit the outcome we desire, or even that prayer can redirect the hand of God—both of which can be true. Yet the transformation God often forges through prayer is that which transforms us to reflect His character and purposes. C.S. Lewis famously said, “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It (prayer) doesn’t change God, it changes me.”
A mother’s fervent prayers for her son.
We see a moving example of this principle in the life of Hannah the mother of Samuel. Hannah fervently prayed for her son (1 Samuel 1:1-28). Her intercession for Samuel is a beautiful example of a parent’s ongoing passionate petition for their children; but also, it is a reminder of the effect this spiritual exercise can have on us. As I mentioned above, often prayer not only changes our circumstances, but in the process, prayer transforms you and me.
If you recall the story of this Old Testament family, Hannah was barren and because of this condition she was ruthlessly provoked for years by her domestic rival (1 Samuel 1:6, 7). To be childless was a significant cultural stigma in ancient times. As such, the text tells us that this dear woman had been provoked and driven to the point of despair and continually lived in “great distress” because of these circumstances (1:10). This was a case of “BULLYING” all in caps. Like the Maskil of the sons of Korah, Hannah could say, “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3). She truly lived under a weight of sorrow.
And even though her circumstances remained unchanged year after year (1:7) Hannah’s suffering did not ultimately turn her face away from God, but her desperation lifted her gaze toward heaven and beckoned her to pray to the God of Israel. In her deep anguish, Hannah turned to the only One who could truly bear her burden, the Lord, with the most powerful means available to the humble, prayer. “She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly”(1 Samuel 1:10).
Genuine prayer is an offering to the Lord.
I love the way she describes her prayer at the end of verse 15. Hannah says, “… I have poured out my soul before the Lord.” The term “soul” is a reference to the immaterial part of a person. It is the seat of the emotion and desire, it is the innermost intimate element of a human being, and the scripture tells us that Hannah poured out her inner being, her soul as a libation before the Lord. (The word “poured out” is most often used in relation to sacrifices.) Petitional prayer is, in part, pouring out our deepest desires, aspirations, concerns, fears in the presence of the Lord and trusting that He will hear us and intervene on our behalf for His glory and good pleasure.
And that’s exactly what Hannah did. She took her greatest burden (to have a child) and her deepest pain (to suffer the scorn of being childless) and poured out her trouble to the Lord. Of course the Lord answered Hannah’s petition in a marvelous way, didn’t He? He gave her little Samuel who grew up to be a great prophet in Israel (3:19-21). What’s more, the Lord opened Hannah’s womb and allowed her to conceive and bear three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21).
It is important to note, however, that Hannah prayed very specifically for the Lord to give her a son, but she received no guarantees of any desired outcome(1 Samuel 1:11). She went home with her petition passionately expressed but not fulfilled. Hannah simply resolved to take her weightiest concern and to foist it full force onto the Lord who would hear her and somehow resolve her burden. This act of prayerful wrestling and surrender accomplished two necessary things for Hannah.
1. Her trust in the God of Israel brought her a deep and treasured peace (1 Samuel 1:18), “ … So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”and 2. It rekindled the spark of vibrant worship in her soul, “Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned again to their house in Ramah.” (1 Samuel 1:19).
Hannah was transformed by praying!
She went from being distressed (1:10), saddened (1:8), oppressed in spirit (1:15), weeping bitterly (1:7, 10), unable to eat (1:7, 8), to eating, displaying a joyful countenance (1:18), and most importantly she engaged once more in grateful worship to the God who hears (1:19).
Are you praying for your family? Is your heart particularly heavy for one of your children, your spouse, sibling, an extended family member, friend? I encourage you to take your cares to the Lord, lay them at His feet, trust in His sovereign care for you and those you love, and experience His transforming grace.
“ . . . casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
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