Prayer: The Great Exchange

A glow shone from her face; a happiness in her eyes from some inward or outward source—he couldn’t tell which.   

He watched as she spoke under her breath, eyes glistening with tears that had shed but were now being wiped away.

He wondered if she’d been drinking.

“No. . . I have poured out my soul before the LORD,” she replied (1 Samuel 1:15).

Hannah’s peaceful glow of joy came from pouring out in prayer and leaving behind.

She learned that prayer is the great exchange—a placement of need and grief into hands of grace and power and going away burden-less and joyful.

“Every trial of our faith is but a trial of His faithfulness.” ~ Frances Ridley Havergal

So Hannah prayed and poured out and went away in peace.

She traded her trial for the peace of trust in His faithfulness.

Her faith might fail, but His faithfulness never would.

Prayer is the great exchange—need replaced by peace even when the need still exists. Prayer places the trial in Another’s hands and knows His faithfulness will stand the test.

“The woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” ~ 1 Samuel 1:18

Hannah poured out her soul to the Lord and traded her trial for peace.

If our prayers don’t result in this great exchange, I wonder if we’ve really prayed.

“In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known unto God. 

And the peace of God which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6,7)