And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid but wilt give thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head – 1st Samuel 1:11).

Hannah was young and infertile; she wanted children but couldn’t. Her adversary would taunt her daily, reminding her she couldn’t have children.

Hannah was married to Elkanah, who was also married to Peninnah. Men had more than one wife during this dispensation, although it was not in God’s plan. The Scriptural record does not commend Elkanah’s polygamy; it merely reports it.

God’s law called for the Israelites to attend three annual pilgrim festivals in Jerusalem, so every time they would go to the festivals, Peninnah would flaunt her children before Hannah reminding her that she had children and Hannah didn’t.

The Bible indicates that Peninnah was Hannah’s adversary; when they went to the House of the Lord yearly, Peninnah would provoke her. She provoked her to the point Hannah lost her appetite. Elkanah loved Hannah and was concerned about her weeping, being grieved, and not eating.

Men don’t understand how emotional it can be for women when they are fertile; it does not mean they don’t love you; or are not concerned; they don’t understand what their wife is going through when they are trying to have a child.

Elkanah would always give Hannah a double portion of his giving, thinking this would compensate for her being fertile. There are some things money can’t suffice, and being fertile is one of them.

After Hannah and her family had eaten at Shiloh, Hannah went to the temple; she began to seek the Lord in prayer. She asked God for a male child and didn’t say a child; she was specific about what she wanted. Because Hannah didn’t speak out in prayer but prayed from her heart, the priest Eli assumed she was drunk.

Hannah explained to Eli the priest, that she was not drunk but a woman of sorry; she explained her dilemma. After hearing her story, Eli told her to go home in peace, and God would grant her petition.

Hannah made a vow to the Lord that if He would bless her with a male child, she would give him to the Lord for the rest of his life. She kept her vow; as soon as Samuel was weaned, she took him to the temple with three bulls.

God’s law required that a burnt offering be given at the completion of a special vow. Two of the bulls most likely were given to the priest as a present, and then the third one was sacrificed. Because of her faith, she would receive a child, and then keeping her vow, God blessed her with three sons and two daughters.

When we pray, we must be specific; it’s not that God does not know. He wants to see how sincere you are about your request. Don’t just ask for a job; you may receive one washing dishes, tell Him what type of job you’re looking for, benefits you want, hours, salary, and location BE SPECIFIC!

Lastly, when you promise God you will do something if He answers your prayer, make sure you pay your vow (When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou has vowed. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5).

Whatever you’re praying for, keep praying until the Father answers your prayer. It does not matter how long it takes to receive an answer; it’s how long you will be persistent in your prayer.