p. 5 | God Answers Prayer by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 3, 1916

God Answers Prayer

By F. M. W.

The Great Father above notes the individual needs of his children here on earth. He sees earth’s multitudes not only as a mass, but as individuals. He takes account of the longings of every heart. He hears the cry of every burdened soul, and in so far as he sees that it will be for the good of his children, their prayers are answered and the desires of their hearts are fulfilled. When he withholds coveted blessings, he does it in love. Our prayers are oftentimes unconsciously prompted by selfish considerations. We view questions from the standpoint of time rather than of eternity. Present pleasure or convenience, temporal good, etc., are factors which unconsciously affect our prayer motives.

The all-wise Father, who sees the end from the beginning, considers our eternal as well as our temporal good, and in mercy and love often refuses to grant our requests. Sometimes the answer is only delayed. The Lord might work a great miracle and send direct answer to our requests, but he ordinarily works through means, oftentimes through human agencies. Hence many times when it seems to us that God has taken no cognizance of our petitions, he has already set in operation influences whereby the answer to our requests may be brought about.

Particularly is this true in the petitions we send up to the throne of grace for the conversion of our loved ones. How many have prayed for the conversion of an unbelieving wife or husband or child; and how long and weary have seemed the days of waiting for the realization of that hope! And many times it seems that Heaven is indifferent and our prayers are useless. But oftentimes we learn in after-years that through the long, weary, waiting days divine influences were patiently at work endeavoring to win the lost soul to God. These influences, perchance, wrought changes in the life of the unconverted. They brought to him new and strange experiences, and gave success or defeat to his efforts, brought cloud or sunshine into his life, and all for the purpose of bringing him to the place where he would yield his will to God and devote his life to the Master’s service.

We were forcibly impressed with this by a letter which came from one of our sisters recently, whose experience in accepting the truth had led her over a thorny path and filled her life with sorrow and persecution, only to bring her in the end out into the field of sunshine and rejoicing. For the benefit of others similarly situated who are hoping against hope for the accomplishment of their heart’s desires in the salvation of their loved ones, we give the following extracts from this cheering communication:—

“A gentleman came to my door one day during the winter of 1908, distributing literature of a religious nature. Since he offered it free of charge, I accepted the papers, and he called regularly, leaving the Family Bible Teacher in twenty-eight numbers. Later he offered to give me Bible readings; and as we studied together, I came to realize that I was not meeting God’s requirements, and was convinced on every point of truth he presented.

“As I began to walk in the new light which had come to me, my husband did everything in his power to turn me from the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. He was a drinking man, and was under the influence of liquor a great deal of the time; so he was a ready tool in the enemy’s hands. When I attended meetings at the Seventh-day Adventist church, he threatened to turn me out of the house; but I took our two little children, and went to services every Sabbath, regardless of threats and taunts. I tried to meet every trial with a true Christian spirit, and the Lord sustained me even in the face of severe persecution.

“The time for my baptism drew near, and I was troubled as to just what I should do about telling my husband of my intention to join the church. After taking the matter to the Lord in prayer, I decided to say nothing about it to him until after the baptism was over. However, before he reached home that memorable Sabbath evening, he heard the news, and came in very angry. Several days later he came home drunk one evening. An Adventist friend was visiting me, and he began to curse both of us. After she went home, he talked on and on, and finally decided to leave me. I packed his clothes and went with him part way down the road to say good-by. As we were about to separate, I told him I hoped we should meet again. My calmness seemed to anger him, and taking a razor from his suit case he started for the house where the children were asleep, remarking that we would take a short cut to a reunion. Calling to a neighbor for help, I succeeded in getting the babies out of the house before he could touch them, and then we called the police. When the officers arrived, he had fallen into a drunken stupor, and they did not take him. I took my things to the home of a neighbor, and decided that I would not return home until my husband agreed to stop drinking, and leave me undisturbed to follow my religious convictions.

“After several days he decided to grant my requests if only I would come back. He kept his word so far as my religion was concerned, but still continued to drink some. He was a great reader, and finally became interested in the book ‘The Coming King.’ This led to his conversion, and from the depths of sin and intemperance the Lord raised him up until he has become a new being in Christ Jesus. Ours is a happy Christian home, and we are united in the service of God; but I tremble as I think of what might have been the result if my heavenly Father had not helped me to stand firmly for the truth in the face of great trial.”

We trust that the perusal of this letter may bring hope and courage to many of our sisters who are similarly situated. The psalmist says, “I had fainted, except I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” He had not yet seen that goodness,—the fulfilment of the desires of his heart,—but he believed that he would see it, and this hope kept his soul from fainting. May that faith sustain our souls in the days of trial and darkness through which the providence of God may lead us. May we hope on and trust on and await patiently the accomplishment of the work

of grace which God is endeavoring to effect in the lives of our loved ones.

Let us on our part be sure that we are exemplifying his love in our relationship to them. In our homes let us be true to the highest interests of our own souls and the souls of our families. Let us exemplify in our own relationship to them the spirit of the Master, and do under every circumstance, even in the face of rebuff and in hours of persecution and what may appear great provocation, as Christ would do if he were placed under the same conditions. No one of us has yet been called to suffer as the Master suffered. He was crowned with a crown of thorns, blindfolded, spit upon, and buffeted. He was hanged upon a tree, and reproached even in his dying hours. And yet in the midst of his suffering he could still pray with a heart of love for his tormentors. Let his love and his spirit fill our hearts and win the hearts of those whose salvation, by God’s grace, we are endeavoring to effect. F. M. W.