FEELING FORGOTTEN? Hannah's Powerful Prayer

A Prayer That Changes Things

Have you ever felt forgotten, invisible, rejected, mocked, or dismissed? Perhaps you thought that this past year would bring you a new job, a marriage, the start of a business, a baby, or a new house, but instead, another year has gone by with your prayers unanswered. 

Maybe you’re at a later stage in life, feeling as though you’ve experienced everything but still find yourself feeling invisible, as if the world has moved on without you. You may be uncertain about what more life has to offer. For others, it has been yet another year of working diligently behind the scenes without any applause or recognition, leaving you exhausted and feeling misused. 

While each of our experiences is different, we all have our own ways of feeling forgotten. Most of us have gone through a season of sitting on the sidelines, watching what seems like everyone else celebrating their successes. We pray day in and day out, month after month, and in some extreme cases, year after year. Although we may celebrate and feel happy for others, the feeling of being forgotten often dims our light little by little as time passes, leading us to wonder if God sees us, hears us, or even cares.

I know this feeling all too well. For years, I've watched others move forward while I felt stuck, no matter how hard I tried. Year after year, I have fumbled through life, feeling rejected and overlooked at seemingly every turn, quietly carrying a broken heart. Wondering if the ship has sailed, but clinging on to the small glimmer of hope left in me. In this season of waiting and feeling forgotten, the Lord led me to read the story of Hannah.

THE BARREN WIFE

The story of Hannah is a profound illustration of how God hears the brokenhearted. Psalm 34:18 (KJV) reminds us of this truth, stating, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” In 1 Samuel 1:1-6, we learn about a man named Elkanah, who had two wives: Hannah and Peninnah. While Peninnah had children, Hannah remained barren. Each year, Elkanah went to up to the Tabernacle to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. During his annual sacrifices, Elkanah provided portions of the offerings to his wives and children, but he gave a generous portion to Hannah, demonstrating his deep love for her despite her inability to bear children. 

In 1 Samuel 1:6 (KJV), it states, “And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.” Here, let's pause for a moment, as this revelation opens the door to many questions. Why did the Lord shut up her womb? And why would Peninnah provoke Hannah? Since Peninnah was blessed with children, why wouldn’t she empathize with Hannah instead of tormenting her? It seems incredibly cruel to intensify Hannah’s pain at a time when she was already suffering. 

Imagine the heartache of someone else boasting or bragging about their blessings while you long for that very thing. Many of us can likely relate to Hannah in some way. Year after year, she prayed and hoped, only to feel weary, forgotten, and heartbroken. 

As we continue reading, we see that Hannah eventually reaches her breaking point. Desperate for a change, she pours out her heart to the Lord. In 1 Samuel 1:10 (KJV), it says, “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore.” What I find both surprising and inspiring about this story is that Hannah did not seek revenge on Peninnah nor lash out in anger. Instead, she turned to the one who had the power to transform her situation. 

What’s beautiful is that she vowed that if the Lord blessed her with a son, she would dedicate him back to the Lord for all the days of his life. During her fervent prayer, Hannah was so desperate that the priest Eli assumed she was drunk and told her to put away her wine. In 1 Samuel 1:15 (KJV), she replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord.”

When was the last time you truly poured out your soul before the Lord? I mean a moment when you felt completely undone and at your wit’s end, without caring who was watching. I’m talking about a messy prayer where your mascara runs and your tears flow freely—a prayer that reflects deep humility before Him. A prayer of total surrender, one that makes you willing to offer back to Him the blessing He so graciously gave to you.

After Hannah poured her heart out to God, she left feeling at peace. She was a changed woman, no longer sad. We read that she went on her way, ate, and her face was no longer downcast. Something shifted within her, and she rose early in the morning to worship before the Lord. In 1 Samuel 1:19 (KJV), it says, “And they rose up in the morning early and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.”

My soul leaped for joy at the thought that the Lord remembered her. Let’s take a moment to embrace that joyful feeling, knowing that the Lord sees us, hears our cries, and cares for us. Although Hannah’s physical circumstances had not yet changed when she left the tabernacle, she departed with a renewed mind. 

If you are currently in a difficult season, I want to encourage you to come before the Lord, humbly lay it all out—your desires, worries, fears, and pain—and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Then, trust in Him and carry on in peace.

LET’S PRAY

Heavenly Father,

We may not always understand Your ways, but we trust that Your plan for our lives is good. Your Word tells us that You are close to the brokenhearted and that You save those who are crushed in spirit. We humbly lay down all our burdens at Your feet, trusting that You see, hear, and care for us. Thank you in advance for giving us peace in the midst of our circumstances. Please remember us as You remembered Hannah. In Jesus' name, Amen.