Hannah - example of the power of prayer

In Hannah’s life, prayer is displayed as being the means by which she was coping with a situation that she cannot control. By prayer, she acknowledge her own weakness and God’s power. She could have resorted to all sorts of schemes and manipulative techniques like Rachel (adoption in order to spite), but instead she prayed. She did not blame, she was not bitter towards her husband for taking another wife, she prayed. Therefore, God looks at us to see if we trust in him, or in our own human schemes like Abraham.

Prayer as a means of emotional coping (pray that you can bear the situation properly)

a) positive example of emotional coping is David and his psalms

b)

Prayer as a means of situational coping (pray that may control what you cannot control).

a) negative example of situational coping is Ruth and her decision to move to Moab, Jacob and his stealing, Abrahaam.

-a bad decision or a sin.

b) positive example of situational coping is Isaac and his wife.

Prayer as a mean of expressing dependence, personal incapacity, humbleness. That is what makes God work in our lives. Displaying properly out dependence on him

Conversely, when people don’t pray, they effectively say to God that they don’t need him by their actions. And then they are bound to failure in the end. If not earthly failure, then spiritual failure (chapter 3 from 1 Samuel expresses that)

Therefore prayer is a good way to react emotionally to a bad situation and to react practically. Pray when you can’t do anything. Pray when you feel emotionally overwhelmed.