I wish all little children would do as our Saviour tells them when He says, “Ask and ye shall receive.” If, when they are in any sorrow or trouble, they would always go and ask Him to help them, they would find that He never fails to hear and answer in some way or other those who cry to Him. I will tell you of how two little girls, Minnie and Emmy, first experienced the truth of those words. They went one day to play in an old attic.
“Let us shut the door, Minnie,” Emmy said, “and play a game; and we can make as much noise as we like without disturbing anyone.”
Emmy shut the door with quite a bang, and then the game began. It was a very exciting one and lasted till twilight came, when Minnie said, “It must be tea time; we had better go downstairs now.”
Emmy agreed and went to open the door, but though she tried hard, she could not turn the handle. Minnie came to help her, but her efforts were alike unsuccessful.
“Oh, what shall we do?” asked Em-my, half crying. “No one knows we are here. If we call, they won’t hear us, and then we shall never get out. It will be dark soon, and I’m so frightened.”
Minnie’s eyes filled with tears, and she cast a timid glance round the rapidly darkening room, which now seemed gloomy and prison-like to them; but then, as if remembering something, her face brightened as she said, “God is near us you know, Emmy. Let us ask Him to help us get out. I think we may.”
Emmy looked frightened and doubtful if this would be right, but it was too dark for Minnie to see her face, so, folding her hands, the little girl said, “Pray, God help us to get this door open for Jesus’ sake. Amen.” And then she went to try and open the door once more, feeling sure God would help her.
As she did so she remembered that the handles of some doors do not turn, but require pulling backwards. She tried this plan, the lock yielded, and they were free. Emmy did not see how she did it, and said in an awed tone, “Oh, Minnie, did God open the door Hielf?”
“No, Emmy, but He showed me how it might be done,” Minnie said; “for when I had prayed to Him, I thought perhaps the handle would draw back instead of turning around; you see it did.”
“We must thank God for helping us,” Emmy answered. “And oh, Minnie, I shall always go and ask Him now, after this, when I’m in trouble.”
Minnie and Emmy are grown up now, but they have never forgotten their prayer in the attic, and its answer. When one is in trouble, the other reminds her of the time when they first called upon God, of how He heard them in their fears, and of how He never fails to help those that put their trust in Him.
Yes, dear reader, the Lord wants us to turn to Him in trouble, and He will help us, but can you tell me what your greatest need is? Your greatest need is that you might be saved from your sins and delivered from the power of darkness. These two girls were delivered from a dark room in answer to prayer, but the Lord Jesus will deliver you from “the blackness of darkness forever.” Jude 1:1313Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 13). If you will but acknowledge your sin and guilt today and call upon Him for mercy He will save you. His dear Son died for sinners and now He is mighty to save. How wonderful it is to be able to say, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” Colossians 1:1313Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13).
ML 05/30/1954