From Desperation to Gratitude: Hannah's Example (1 Samuel 1)

November 27, 2025

I've always heard Hannah talked about as full of grief alone. On closer examination, that's not the full story. This is my Bible exposition on 1 Samuel 1, exploring Hannah, how she moved from desperation (and anger!) to peace and gratitude, and where God was in it all.

Things I learned about 1 Samuel 1:

  • Hannah was feeling a lot more than only sadness: she was a complex woman
  • God "closing Hannah's womb" is difficult to understand, but the becomes part of how Hannah could trust him
  • God doesn't need our words (or our togetherness) to meet us: He loves our honesty


To read 1 Samuel 1 click here.


Enjoy!


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Photo by The Cleveland Museum of Art on Unsplash

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Oxford Summer School in Sept 2027!

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