TALK ABOUT THE
SCRIPTURE

Have you ever heard a newborn baby crying? It can be really loud and sometimes hurts your ears, but the cries are actually very useful. When you become a parent, you learn how to respond to the baby’s cries and soothe them. You discover which cry means the baby is hungry, which cry means they’re hurting, and which cry means they need a diaper change— although your nose will probably tell you before your ears! A good parent will listen for their cry and respond to it.

​

Hannah was heartbroken about not having a child. She would go with her husband to the tabernacle, and she would pray, “Lord, if You give me a son, I will dedicate him to You. He will serve You all of his life.” Like a newborn who cries for her parents, Hannah cried out to God for help in her time of need. God heard her and gave her a son, Samuel. Samuel would grow to serve God just as Hannah had promised.

​

Psalm 34:17 says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.” Whatever we need, we can ask God for help. He is a loving Father who hears us and responds to us. He may not answer the way we expect or want, but we can always trust in His plans for us.

​

Hannah trusted God and sent Samuel away from home to serve God with his whole life. God sent Jesus from heaven to earth to be our Savior. Just as Samuel used God’s words to tell people about God, Jesus—the Word who became flesh—perfectly shows us what God is like.

​

Pray: We praise You, God, for being a loving, patient, and attentive Father. Thank You for hearing us when we cry out to You. Help us to trust that You will hear us and provide for our needs. Thank You for Jesus—the Savior who provides for our greatest need!