Samuel is often called the last of the Judges, based primarily upon this passage. The book of Samuel begins where Judges leaves off, and the people are still following the same pattern as they had during the book of Judges. They would fall away from God and worship false gods, God would allow another nation to oppress them, the people would repent and cry out to God for help, and He would rise up a judge, or deliverer, to save His people.
Samuel fits this model, God raises him up to call the people away from their false gods to worship the one true God. While many of the other judges were great military warriors, Samuel was not, he was simply a great prayer warrior, calling on God’s deliverance, and God delivered a great victory on behalf of His people who had recommitted themselves to Him.
Don’t doubt the power of prayer! God hear you, He answers your prayers, and He will deliver you!