There was a certain man named Elkanah who had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Hannah and Peninnah were both married to the same man, They were co-wives or “sisters” of some kind – but they’re not friends at all.

Each year Elkanah went to worship and sacrifice to the Lord as was the custom. When Elkanah came to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, but to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her. Because of this, and because Hannah could not bear children, Peninnah would provoke her and belittle her until Hannah would be overcome with anguish and begin crying and completely lose her appetite. This went on year after year.

Peninnah had several children, but Hannah is suffering through the painful trauma of infertility. In her society, infertility was often viewed as a sign that God was displeased with the woman for some reason. Hannah lived through that stigma for years, while Peninnah had child after child after child. Hannah just wanted a child – she wanted to know that joy – she wanted to be a mother and raise a child. Peninnah mocked Hannah’s infertility. To make matters worse – good old Elkanah says: “Hey – I’m here! Aren’t I worth more than 10 babies? Put a smile on your face, sweetheart! You’re married to me!” (Open mouth – insert both feet up to your knees!)

Guys – ever notice how easy it is to put your foot in your mouth? We seem to have some wires crossed and some screws loose when it comes to saying sensitive things to our wives. I’ve thought back on some of the things I’ve said or that I’ve heard said, and I’m amazed:

• That’s not the way my mom used to do it.
• You’re not that fat.
• I think you’re growing old gracefully.

Hannah is upset about not having a child, and Elkanah doesn’t help Hannah’s situation any by saying “I’m here. I love you. Aren’t I enough?”

One time after such a meal, Hannah went to pray, and Eli the priest heard her. She made a vow, saying, “O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life. . .”

Hannah’s prayer was so intense, she was moving her mouth, but making no sound. Eli the priest thought she might had had too much to drink, but Hannah assured Eli that she was “deeply troubled.”

The Lord heard Hannah’s prayer, and in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son named Samuel.

Hannah prayed. She went beyond mere prayer – she poured out her heart and was “deeply troubled.” The King James version says Hannah had a “sorrowful spirit.” Other translations say Hannah was “sharply pained in spirit” or “oppressed in spirit.” Hannah was more than just sad or depressed; she was more than emotionally distraught or near the end of her rope. This phrase means something very different than being depressed – it goes much deeper. In the Hebrew, the phrase can mean “hard in spirit.” Hannah says she is a woman who is “hard in spirit.” It means she is persistent; she is “tough-minded”; she is not going to give up in this struggle to have the Lord hear her and answer her prayer! Hannah is praying from a place of grief and sorrow – yet she is persistent; she is bound and determined to have God hear her and grant her request.

Moms are a rare breed. They rarely – if ever – give up.

My mother told off a few teachers and coaches throughout my school years. She fought with my uncles when they were too rough on us kids. She was like a momma bear one time when a next-door neighbor got drunk and threatened her children. She kicked rears and took names on more than one occasion. She pushed me hard until I memorized my multiplication facts. She would not let me be a bad speller. She made me read. She made me practice the piano. She made me study for my merit badges in scouts. She sent me to camp even when the boys stole my underwear while I was swimming and flushed them down the toilet. My mom once said to me “If you start a fight, you’ll be in big trouble at home. . . but if someone else starts the fight and you don’t win it, you’ll be in worse trouble!”

Moms don’t give up. They don’t give up on their children, and they don’t give up on helping their children achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.

Hannah is not yet a mom – but she has the will power and the gumption to be a mom, and she’s going toe-to-toe with God Himself. “I want a baby – and I’ll dedicate his life to Your service if You will just give me a son!” She’s hard in spirit – persistent – grappling with God. Her prayers came to a place where there’s no sound – just fervent, gut-wrenching prayer.

Hannah has become “fully present” with God.

She’s not pretending: “Dear God, if you say ‘no’ then I’ll be alright.” She’s being honest! “I want a baby. Give me what I need and want!” She’s not offering platitudes: “God, You are so good. You are a great God. . .” She’s sticking it out there! “God, I need You to listen to me!” Out of her hurt and disappointment she comes to God and because she doesn’t have the time or the inclination to use the proper words or the proper form of address or say her prayer out loud in the right style, her prayer is heartfelt, honest, authentic and totally transparent.

She is fully present with God.

How are you with your best friend when you’re hurting? Are you fully present? Are you honest, or do you pretend, or cover up or keep things hidden? How are you with your best friend when they’re being honest with you? Are you fully present – or do you faze out and fail to listen or dismiss their words?

As we see with Hannah, there are those who focus a great deal of time and energy on praying with depth and power and persistence and profound intimacy. That is a state of being “fully present.” Being fully present means that when we’re with God, we’re totally honest. We let Him see the real us. We’re authentic with Him; we’re transparent before Him. We don’t pretend. We don’t fall asleep – any more than we would fall asleep in the middle of a conversation with our best friend. We don’t just make small talk. We don’t have cliché communication. “How’s the weather up there? Good, good.” We tell Him what’s on our minds, and then we’re confident that He hears us.

If you’re praying, but in your heart you’re thinking, “I don’t think God’s going to listen to me” – then say that to Him. “Father. I’m having trouble praying because I’m not sure You’re going to listen.” That’s a step in the right direction toward being “Fully Present.”

To be fully present – you have to tell the truth. “I want this, Father – but I know You don’t want it. So, either take the desire out of me, or give me something else to focus on. Just help me.”

Hannah is “hard in spirit” – persistent, tough-minded; she was a pit-bull of prayer. She prayed and would not give up.

Jesus told us a parable to show us that we should always pray and not give up: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.” (Luke 18:1-6)

The unbelieving, unjust judge said – “I don’t want her to wear me out with her persistence – I’ll give her what she wants – just to shut her up.” God doesn’t want to shut us up – but He does respond to persistence. He wants us to be persistent!

In a recent blog I talked about how we sometimes have to take the first step – and then continue walking in faith – and then God meets us there and meets our needs. It’s much the same with prayer. Pray. Then pray some more. Make petition. Come before Him and ask and ask and ask. Be tough-minded; be hard in spirit.

Charles H. Brent, an Episcopal Bishop, once advised all believers: “Pray hard when it is hardest to pray.”

Paul told us about a kind of fervent prayer. “. . . hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Romans 8:24-26)

The moment you get tired of waiting, about that time God’s Spirit comes right alongside you to help you along. If you don’t know how to pray or don’t know what to pray, it doesn’t matter – the truly miraculous thing is that the Holy Spirit does your praying in you and for you! He makes prayer out of your wordless sighs and your aching groans, and these prayers are most certainly heard.

Praying for others is important, too. We can use our growing ability to be “Fully Present” with the Lord to pray for others. Intercessors are people who pray for others. They “stand in the gap” between a person who’s having trouble praying or who doesn’t know how to pray and the Lord Himself. They pray for the person – telling God about their needs. James, the brother of Jesus, who became the leader of the Church in Jerusalem in the first century, told us this about power prayer and personal accountability: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

It ought to become normal, everyday procedure that we get in touch with a brother or sister in Christ and confess our misdeeds and missteps and messes in life. We should willingly and intentionally confess our sins to each other and then pray for each other so that we can all live together whole and healed and ready for life lived for Christ. Why? Because God has placed an enormous power within the life of each Christ-follower, and those who are living life right – and are fully plugged in to God and fully present with Him – have a prayer life that is a powerful force to be reckoned with! Jesus taught us: “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:23) Your prayer life can be powerful!

Hannah’s prayer was answered. He son Samuel became the last of the great Judges or rulers of Israel before the first king was crowned. Samuel crowned Saul king of Israel, and also crowned David, king of Israel. Hannah’s prayers were powerful and effective because she was “fully present” with God. She was honest, authentic, transparent, and persistent in her prayers.

Moms and dads, are you persistent in your prayers for your children? Do you grapple with the Lord over them? Are you Fully Present with Him regarding your children and your family?

Husbands and wives, are you fully present with the Lord for your marriage? Do you consistently and persistently offer prayers for your marriage each and every day?

Christ-followers – are you persistent and fully present in your daily life of devotion? Do you refuse to give up on being fully present with the Lord?

Hannah’s story tells us that being fully present with God is all about being honest, authentic and transparent, speaking to Him about what is truly on our hearts, and being confident that God hears and cares. Hannah’s story is about a prayer life that works.

Jesus tells us to be persistent and passionate in prayer. Each of us can be fully present with God by committing to a growing life of prayer. Friends, be confident of this: God desires to meet you in prayer even more than you might dream of a healthy, productive prayer life!

Desire to be fully present. Let’s all grow our life of prayer.