October 12-18, 2025
I recently spent some time with Hannah in the pages of Scripture. She went through a lot to reach a surrendered heart.
One beautiful example in this story is Hannah’s husband, Elkanah. He gave Hannah a double portion of the sacrifice because of his love for her, even in her barrenness. His devotion reminds us that love is not tied to productivity or success. Hannah was cherished simply because she was his beloved. This mirrors how God loves us. Our value is not diminished by what we lack or by seasons of waiting.
Through her suffering, Hannah clung to God in prayer. In pouring out her anguish, she discovered that the beloved are not ignored but heard. She entrusted her deepest longing to the One who loved her most, and in that surrender her faith grew.
God transformed her not only by giving her a son but by reshaping her heart. When she received Samuel, she surrendered him back to God. Belovedness is not about clinging to gifts but living open-handed before the Giver. From this trust came Samuel, the prophet who anointed Israel’s kings.
Hannah’s song resounds with the confidence of the beloved: “My heart rejoices in the Lord.” Her praise declared that God’s love overturns shame and rewrites every story.
I hope you find companionship with her in your study this month.
This week's Bible reading: 1 Samuel: 1:12-28
Day 1: Eli mistook Hannah’s deep prayer for drunkenness. What does this tell you about the depth of her distress and the intensity of her prayer?
Day 2: Think back to a time when you felt that same kind of distress or desperation. How did you cry out to God? Write a prayer of remembrance and thanksgiving for how He saw you through.
Day 3: Have you ever received a word of encouragement or promise from a person of God, something that spoke to your situation? How did you respond at the time? Looking back, what did you learn from that experience?
Day 4: After worshipping the Lord, Scripture says that “the Lord remembered Hannah.” What does this phrase mean to you? Do you believe God still responds to worship in this way today? Why or why not?
Day 5:Hannah kept her vow and gave back to God the very gift she longed for. What do you think it required of her heart to follow through on that promise? What might this teach us about surrender and trust?
Challenge: This week, think of something you’ve been putting higher than God - a habit, a practice, a person, etc. Take some time to ask God to help you surrender that area of your life to Him. What does He ask of you? Invite Him to speak.
Prayer Prompts and Bible Readings are provided by Michele Bowden and Lisa Brass, Coaches with Visual Faith™ Ministry. Find them on our Creative Devotion page, on Instagram @victoryinart and @aworthylif, and on the web at victoryinart.com.