A Prayer For the Woman Waiting, Whispering Prayers, and Wanting a Child - Your Daily Prayer - September 10

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Years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and was met with a clear, concise word concerning my friend. This friend, of course, was dear to me, but not a particularly close companion or someone I spoke to on a daily basis, yet God’s gentle whisper informed me that she was aching to have a child. At this time in my life, I was still learning to hear His voice, and if I am honest, the maturity to know just what to do with His precious words was in its own infancy. So, I held this awareness and prayed for her in the only way I knew how. Months later, while scrolling social media, a late-night timestamp marked a vulnerable, downcast tweet of the exact yearning God had revealed weeks before. In this moment, His intentions were clear to deliver the message to her that God saw her in her painful wait. In time, her longing was fulfilled as a cheerful, rosy-cheeked boy came up for adoption, and in HIs time, God made her a mother.

The Bible records the journeys of several mothers-wanting-to-be as they too whispered in their hearts the deep desire for a child. For some, hope had bitterly twisted, as seen with Sarah, who laughed at the possibility of bearing a child in her old age (Genesis 18:11-15). For others, the ambition would not relent, and so in anguish and desperation, prayers would become tearful petitions to the Lord. Such was the case with Hannah, the mother of Samuel. In 1 Samuel 1:10-11, the scene is painted within the Temple, “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” (ESV). The priest, Eli, believes Hannah to be drunk, for she was in such a forlorn and delirious state, but it was not from wine but from fervor that her passion arose. Yet, this is not where her story ends by any stretch of the imagination. 1 Samuel 1:19 adds another stepping stone to the journey, sharing, “and the Lord remembered her.” (ESV). In perhaps some of the most powerful, life-giving words of the Bible, the longing is met with life: God remembered her.

In each example, the Bible gives of a mother longing for a child; she is met not only with the fulfillment of the seed of aspiration in her heart, but also with an astounding experience with her Creator, God. All of the children of these prayerful women held an important and timely role in His story for mankind, which assures that it was not that God was withholding but that He was waiting for the exact moment in the greater plan of history when these people would be needed in the world. If you or someone you care about is in a place of waiting, wishing, or wanting a child, remind them that in His timing, in His way, and in His goodness, He will remember them.

Let's Pray

Father God,

We thank You for the true and remarkable accounts in Your Word of these devoted and dedicated women who sought You for a child. Lord, we know that today there are women who relate to Hannah, Sarah, Elizabeth, and countless others in the same way. We pray for their hearts in this moment that they would be still before You, and that they would listen with an intent and softened heart for what You want to say and do in their lives. Lord, if someone reading this is walking alongside another with such a yearning, help them to be equipped with the wisdom and wherewithal to truly encourage them. We thank You Lord, that just as You remembered Hannah, You remember Your daughters today.

In Jesus’s Holy Name,

Amen

Discuss today’s devotional with others in the Your Daily Prayer thread on the Crosswalk Forum.

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Cally Logan is the author of three books, including The Wallflower that Bloomed, winner of the 2025 Reader’s Choice Christian Literary Award and the Henri Award, and an Expert Writer for Crosswalk.com and The Rooted Truth. Her heart finds beauty in the mysteries of life and in the glory all around us in the details, big and small. Storytelling is her passion, and she believes each and every one of us holds a unique, valuable, and hand-written story by God, and together, we are part of the Grand Story He has written. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University and has taught US History and Western Civilization for nearly a decade. Her works have been featured on outlets such as Jesus Calling, The 700 Club Interactive, Propel Women, and many more. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, watching movies, and woodworking. Check out her website, callylogan.com, or find her on Instagram @CallyLogan.

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