Hannah's Special Prayer

Hannah was very, very sad. She wanted a baby SO much, but she couldn't have one. Every year when her family went to worship God, she would cry and cry.

One day, Hannah was so sad she couldn't even eat. She went to God's house and prayed. She prayed SO hard—her lips were moving, but no sound came out. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

'God, please, PLEASE give me a baby boy! If You do, I promise—I'll give him back to You. He'll serve You his whole life!'

The priest Eli saw her crying and thought something was wrong. Hannah explained, 'I'm not drunk. I'm just SO sad. I'm pouring my heart out to God.'

Eli said kindly, 'Go in peace. May God give you what you asked for.'

Something changed in Hannah's heart. She believed God heard her. She ate dinner and wasn't sad anymore.

And guess what? God answered her prayer! Hannah had a baby boy! She named him Samuel, which sounds like the Hebrew words for 'asked of God.'

Hannah loved Samuel so much. But she remembered her promise. When Samuel was old enough, she took him to God's house.

'I prayed for this child,' she told Eli. 'God gave him to me. Now I'm giving him back to God.'

Hannah left Samuel there to help Eli and serve God. It must have been hard! But Hannah trusted God. She visited Samuel every year and brought him a new coat she made.

God blessed Hannah with more children. And Samuel grew up to be one of the most important people in the whole Bible!

God hears our prayers, even when we're crying too hard to speak out loud.