“I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD gave me what I asked him for, I now give the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is given to the LORD.”–1 Samuel 1:27-28 CSB.
Jackie Hill-Perry is an incredibly gifted Bible teacher, author, and musical artist. She's married to Preston Perry, a passionate author, poet, and apologist. Together, they have four beautiful children––Eden, Autumn, Sage, and August. The Perrys currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia, and host their popular podcast, With the Perrys.
Jackie was recently featured in a Bible study titled When You Pray. In a specific part of the study, Jackie asked the readers about our willingness to surrender right back to God and what we have been asking him for.
This question made me pause. I felt a sense of uneasiness as I thought about various things I asked God for.
One specific petition I make to God quite often is marriage. It’s one of my greatest desires. The thought of persistently praying for marriage while surrendering all its implications to God made me feel emotional as I contemplated Jackie's question.
Sometimes, faith seems like surrendering what we have to God after receiving what we’ve been waiting for.
Hannah knew this all too well.
In the book of I Samuel, we’re introduced to Hannah, a woman married to Elkanah, the son of Jeroham. Hannah desired a son, but the Lord kept her from conceiving. Year after year, Hannah would pray to God for a son. She was taunted relentlessly by Peninnah, who was Elkanah’s second wife and had children. Hannah was deeply brokenhearted by her unfulfilled desire, causing her to weep and not eat.
Yet Hannah persisted in prayer and made a vow to God, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut” (1 Samuel 1:11). God remembered her. After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to the son she prayed for, and named him Samuel. After Samuel was weaned, she kept her vow to God, “I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD gave me what I asked him for, I now give the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is given to the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:27-28). God would later enable Hannah to conceive and give birth to three more sons and two daughters.
Hannah’s persistence in praying to God amid her agony was pure faith. She understood that only God could enable her to conceive. Hannah also understood that the birth of her son Samuel resulted from prayer and God’s graciousness in answering her prayer. Her willingness to give Samuel back to God was not just an act of faith but an understanding that Samuel belonged to God since he was given from God.
Faith is not solely about what we hope to receive but what we are willing to give. Our willingness to surrender is a powerful demonstration of our faith in God. Our willingness to surrender shows that we trust God and love him more than anything we pray for. It shows that our faith is not contingent on what we receive.
Anything we ask for is better in God’s hands than in our own.
Prayer: God, thank you for who you are. Thank you for hearing my prayers and answering them how you see fit. Allow me to love you more than anything I ask for. Instill within me a desire to have faith to receive and faith to give what I receive right back to you. Amen.
Your Turn: When you think of surrendering what you received in prayer right back to God, what thoughts come to mind?
Arianna, I loved this. As someone who was 31 when I finally got married, I can relate to the many years of longing and wondering. My favorite take-away from your blog -
“Our willingness to surrender shows that we trust God and love him more than anything we pray for. It shows that our faith is not contingent on what we receive.”
I can look back and appreciate so much of my single years, in large part because of the intimacy I felt with Christ. I was alone, and yet I was not alone!
I look forward to connecting with you more over the years and watching Christ be mighty within you and through you. Thank you for sharing!
thank you for sharing your powerful devotion on embracing faith. It really encouraged me !