“Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the very woman who stood here several years ago praying to the Lord. I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and He has granted my request. Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 1:26–28 (NLT)
The story of Hannah is one we can all learn from. Her humility in the face of ridicule is truly remarkable—admittedly hard, yet still remarkable. Her prayer to God for a son, whom she would, in turn, dedicate back to Him if He answered her prayer, is deeply moving.
One detail that stands out in Hannah’s prayer is her mention of not cutting Samuel’s hair as a sign of his dedication to the Lord:
1 Samuel 1:11 (NLT):
“…He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.” I wondered why Hannah mentioned that Samuel’s hair would not be cut as a sign of his dedication to God.
“They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the Lord. Until the time of their vow has been fulfilled, they must let their hair grow long.”
Numbers 6:5 (NLT):
While not central to the focus of this writing, it’s important to note that Nazarite priests did not cut their hair as a sign of their dedication to God. What is the one thing you can do to demonstrate your commitment to Christ? Take a moment to reflect on that.
Let’s explore the idea of sacrifice—particularly when we have little to give, rather than in abundance. The Cambridge Dictionary defines sacrifice as giving up something valuable to help another person. Something valuable—not easily parted with, I might add.
This brings to mind the story of Elijah and the widow:
1 Kings 17:7–16 (The Message):
Eventually, the brook dried up because of the drought. Then God spoke to him: “Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I’ve instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you.” So he got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the entrance of the village, he met a woman, a widow, gathering firewood. He asked her, “Please, would you bring me a little water in a jug? I need a drink.” As she went to get it, he called out, “And while you’re at it, would you bring me something to eat?” She said, “I swear, as surely as your God lives, I don’t have so much as a biscuit. I have a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a bottle; you found me scratching together just enough firewood to make a last meal for my son and me. After we eat it, we’ll die.”
Elijah said to her, “Don’t worry about a thing. Go ahead and do what you’ve said. But first, make a small biscuit for me and bring it back here. Then go ahead and make a meal from what’s left for you and your son. This is the word of the God of Israel: ‘The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle of oil will not become empty before God sends rain on the land and ends this drought.’ And she went right off and did it, just as Elijah asked. It turned out exactly as he said—daily food for her and her family. The jar of meal didn’t run out, and the bottle of oil didn’t become empty: God’s promise was fulfilled to the letter, exactly as Elijah had delivered it!**
This story demonstrates that when we sacrifice in faith, God’s extraordinary provision follows.
Hannah, without dwelling on how long she had waited for a son, was willing to give him back to God. Was she thinking that perhaps God would bless her with other children? Likely not. In that moment, her only desire was for God to answer her prayer. She wasn’t seeking to meet societal expectations or erase the stigma of barrenness—she simply longed for a child and was prepared to give him back to God, full stop.
Later, we see God bless Hannah with not just Samuel but three more sons and two daughters. What a God we serve! Hannah’s selfless sacrifice ushered in God’s abundant favor—beyond anything she could have imagined.
I believe that our actions—whether positive or negative, sacrificial or selfish—set in motion experiences that shape our lives. The message is this: sacrifices made with joy and without hesitation yield blessings beyond measure.
Consider Mary in John 12:3 (TPT):
“Mary picked up an alabaster jar filled with nearly a liter of extremely rare and costly perfume—the purest extract of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet. Then she wiped them dry with her long hair. And the fragrance of the costly oil filled the house.”
When we think of others, let us give the best of what we have, with no expectation of return. The greatest blessings often come in forms we cannot quantify. Our intent should be to honor God and trust that our sacrifices, given with pure hearts, will lead to the best life He has planned for us.
What are you willing to sacrifice today?
Lots of Love & Amazing Light!
