Remarkable Incidents of Answered Prayer by Emma L. Lawrence

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 10, 1910

Remarkable Incidents of Answered Prayer

By Emma L. Lawrence

EMMA L. LAWRENCE

My father and mother were associated with the work in the early days of the message, and thinking that some of the incidents in their experience of answered prayer might be interesting and helpful to others, as they have been to me, I will relate some of the most remarkable.

In the year 1850 my mother was very ill. For eight days and nights in succession she had been without sleep, and began to feel that she would not recover, but felt that she could not die and leave her husband and baby. My father went out alone into the field behind a brush-heap, and prayed until he received the evidence that her life would be spared until she was willing to die.

My mother began to gain from that hour, and the prayer was entirely answered more than fifty years afterward in her triumphant death.

Some years after this incident my mother was again taken sick, and her life despaired of by both friends and physician. She was so low that she could not raise her hand to her head, and to all appearances she was dying. Realizing her condition, and that her helpless little ones sadly needed a mother's care, she prayed in the night for the Lord to send some one to pray for her, that she might be healed.

The next morning, Brother Lewis Haskell, a man of great faith, who lived in another county thirty miles away, arose as usual, and being a farmer, went out to the field to work. He was expecting men to help him harvest his grain that day, and was very busy; but he soon returned to the house, and began to make preparations to go away, telling his family that he felt impressed that Sister Lawrence was in need of help, and that he must go without delay.

He drove as rapidly as possible. Arriving at my father's house, he learned the particulars, and, joining with my father, first prayed that my mother might be strengthened so that she could hear prayer, which was impossible in her low condition. This prayer being answered, they went into her room, and prayed for her recovery, which began from that hour.

My oldest brother, a boy about fifteen years of age, was taken ill with rheumatism, which seriously affected his heart. My father felt that in his zeal for the salvation of others he perhaps had neglected his own son, and not having the evidence that my brother had experienced a change of heart, felt that he could not give him up, and in his great anxiety and anguish prayed for the Lord to spare the boy's life a year. My brother not only recovered, but gave every evidence from that time of being truly converted, and his daily life was such that its influence upon his family was felt long after his life had ended.

Just a year from the time of his first illness he was taken sick again with the same disease. My father felt that the Lord had answered prayer, and that now he must be reconciled to let him die.

Years afterward my mother was very feeble, not able to do her work. My father was going away to hold some meetings, and wanted her to go with him, thinking the ride might do her good. Before starting, Brother Haskell, who was present, prayed that my mother might be healed, and received the assurance that the work was done, and that the witness would be given my mother three days later, when she was twenty miles from home.

She went with my father; and at the close of a Sunday-night meeting, just three days afterward, as she started to tell some of the people of her recent experience, the witness came to her, and she received such a blessing that she shouted the praises of God.

Another time, after the incident just related, my mother was awakened at midnight with the impression that one of my brothers who was away from home, was in great danger. She was so burdened that she awoke my father, telling him that they must pray for their son without delay. My father at this time did not share her burden, thinking it might be the result of her imagination or of a bad dream. But my mother could not rest, and rising from bed, prayed until the burden left her, and she felt that the danger was over.

Afterward they learned that my brother at that time was very ill, and was on his way home from the West. Seeing that he was rapidly growing worse, he had decided to stop at the Battle Creek Sanitarium for treatment. On this particular night he had reached Battle Creek, and not finding a cab, started to walk from the station to the sanitarium.

He was so weak he could scarcely walk, and feared that he would not be able to get there. In this condition he was accosted by two rough-looking men, one seizing him by the throat, the other taking the small satchel he had in his hand. He was too weak to resist, but he told them that he was a sick man trying to get to the sanitarium for help. To his great surprise they released him, gave him back his satchel, and at his request directed him to the sanitarium, which he finally reached, and where he remained until he was able to continue his journey home.

These are only a few of the many wonderful instances of answered prayer in the life experience of my parents.

West Bangor, N. Y.