What does the story of Manoah teach us about prayer?

Manoah's earnest prayers to God demonstrate the importance of sincere communication with our Creator. In Judges 13, Manoah sought guidance on how to raise the son that God had promised him. Though he did not receive the specific guidance he sought directly, his persistence in prayer was not overlooked. The account teaches us that God may choose to respond in ways that we do not expect, and that sometimes silence is part of the divine response. Nonetheless, Manoah's prayerful attitude exemplifies the manner in which believers should approach God—earnestly seeking His will and desiring to align our lives with His purposes.