BEFORE they call, I will answer and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Isa. 65:2424And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)). What a precious word to us from the God of all grace, when, with burdened hearts, we draw near to make known to Him our requests And, when we take into account that, as one of our own poets has said―
“Prayer is appointed to convey
The blessings God designs to give,”
with what holy boldness we may plead the all-prevailing name of Jesus, and reckon on having that which we ask of the Father, when such prayer is according to His mind!
In a Christian family in France, a beloved mother lay at the point of death. Her children had come from various parts of the country, and were grouped around the sick bed in agonized suspense, pleading that, if God saw well, the precious life might still be spared, and yet, with almost breaking hearts, watching moment by moment for the last breath.
In a distant town, which one of the sons had left when thus summoned home, many children of God met earnestly to pray that, if it were to God’s glory, He would yet raise up the apparently dying woman, and give her back to her family, and to them. Late into the night they knelt, and at length an aged servant of the Lord, in fervent supplication lifting up his voice, said: “Oh! our God, lay Thine hand its healing on Thine handmaid; spare, oh! spare this loved one to us yet awhile; give back the life that is ebbing out! Our Father and our God, we believe that Thou art listening; we believe that Thou art about to give us that which we ask of Thee,” and then he paused, and while a thrill ran through those who knelt around him, he added in solemn and yet glad thanksgiving, with a ring of joy in his trembling voice “We believe that Thou hast given us that which we have asked—that our dear one is healed; that she is even now recovering; and we bless, we praise, we thank Thee for this gracious answer to our prayers.”
At the very hour that this occurred in that far off town, in the hush of the sick room, the children knelt sorrowfully and prayerfully, watching the failing breath of their mother. Suddenly a glad change came over the loved face; a smile parted the lips, and a light came into the dim eyes, while she turned her head slowly towards her son, and holding out her hand to him, said: “My son, I am better; I am much better; I am quite hungry; I think if I had a little roast bird I could eat it.”
Filled with wonder, and hardly daring to believe that she was indeed to live and not die, the children arose, and wiping away their tears, smiled their tender welcomes as they gently kissed their mother. The son slipped from the room, and went quickly down stairs, and into the kitchen, to seek something that might be suitable for the invalid, who had not tasted solid food for days. With all his heart he wished that it were daylight, so that he could go out and obtain the bird she seemed to fancy.
The outer door stood open, and he paused before it for a moment, drinking in the fresh night air, while in heartfelt thanksgiving he lifted up his soul to God for His signal mercy. As he thus stood, a little bird fluttered into his bosom!
“He commanded that something should be given her to eat.” (Mark 5:4343And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. (Mark 5:43).) And Jesus, who spoke those words in tender thoughtfulness for the little maiden long ago, is yet “the same―today and forever.”
The young man turned swiftly back into the sick room. “Mother,” he said, “God has sent you the little bird, and you shall soon have it.”
Some years have passed, and mother and son are still left to praise and serve the Lord. Reader, may you not from this little story, take courage to carry your heaviest burdens and your smallest anxieties to a God who thus “careth for you”? A. P. C.