I had seen her many times, and I am sure she was leading a good life. She was kind and generous, yet very strict in doing all things uprightly and well. No one that ever knew her could do aught but respect her for her outspoken candor, her hatred of everything that savored of hypocrisy, and her love of truth and goodness. She was beloved by all. Her seat in the parish church was seldom empty, and she seemed always so attentive and devout, joining in the service with such heartiness that one would have thought her a model in almost every way.
We had known each other intimately for years, and I had never seen anything which would have been considered inconsistent in any one who posed before the world as a Christian.
However, one day when I called to see her, I began to feel an unusually great interest in her. Something seemed to whisper a doubt to me that perhaps after all she was not really the Lord’s! I looked upon her, as we conversed together about the things of God. She seemed to love everything connected with Jesus as much as ever, but still I could not shake off the powerful misgiving that had quite seized me. I do not know how or why it had come, but it was there, and I could not help it.
I felt constrained to ask her a direct question, but how to do it I knew not. I felt a choking sensation, for I knew it would be a great ordeal, but at last, after asking God to lead me, I ventured to ask her, “Are you really a Christian? Have you really been born again, and made a child of God by adoption and grace?”
She seemed bewildered, and was astonished beyond measure. “Whatever has induced you to put such a question to me?” she exclaimed.
“Why do you doubt about me?”
I could only say I did not know, but somehow or other the thought had struck me that perhaps after all she was not quite happy, and I wished to help her.
“Do I not seem happy?” she exclaimed. “Yes,” I said; “but still I don’t seem at all convinced that you are built on the right foundation, and I want to be sure.” I could now see by her looks she was much disturbed, so, as I had to leave at that time, I made her promise to write to me, and tell me about her soul.
The next morning I received a letter saying my words had made her very miserable, and she wanted so much to become a Christian. She had been uncomfortable for some time, as she was not sure she was right with God, but no one had spoken to her, believing her to be a true Christian. She did not know what to do, where to begin, or how any change was to be effected in her, but, however it might be brought about, she would be thankful to really know Christ, and to be assured she was His!
This opened out a most earnest correspondence, in which, by God’s guidance, I pointed out to her that, amiable and good as she was, yet she must take her place as a poor lost undone sinner, who deserved nothing but God’s wrath. Jesus died for her as a poor helpless sinner, and it is His substitutionary sacrifice that atoned for sin. Jesus would readily accept her, cleanse her; God would make her a new creation in Christ Jesus, and give her His salvation. All had been done by Christ; we are only the recipients of the blessing.
These things puzzled her greatly. She could not grasp them at all. She began almost to despair of ever realizing the truth.
God put it into my heart to pray for her as I had never prayed before. I saw plainly that none but God and His power could avail her anything, and that He must make the change. Hour after hour I pleaded; I could not cease. At business, during meals, in the street, where ever I went, the anguish of prayer was upon me, and like Jacob. I said I would not cease till God’s power had prevailed, and the victory was won, This lasted for three days, during which I did all I could to bring the gospel clearly and simply before her, but feeling terribly helpless, and realizing that it was “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord.” However, I was convinced that sooner or later, in God’s good time, the change would come, but meanwhile I was getting exhausted. My earnestness in prayer had been so intense and so constant that I began to feel quite unwell through the strain.
The third night I went to bed praying as usual until I fell asleep. During the night I awoke, and prayed until I fell asleep again. About six o’clock the next morning I got out of bed, and went on my knees to supplicate the Lord as before, but no words would come. I tried to pray, but could not. I began to upbraid myself for not praying, and besought the Lord to enable me to pray, but all in vain. My heart and lips resisted every effort to pray, and I began to feel miserable about it, when all at once it dawned upon me that God must have answered the prayer, and saved her soul. My heart was now filled with joy, for I felt convinced it must be true, and I began to praise Him with all my power. I was filled with quite an ecstasy of delight, and felt that my best words were very feeble indeed in expressing the joy I had.
I made arrangements immediately to go and see her, which I did about eight o’clock that morning. The moment I saw her I exclaimed, “Thank God for showing you His salvation, and revealing His dear Son to your soul.”
She looked at me in silent amazement for a moment, and then said, “However do you know; who could possibly have told you?”
“God told me,” I answered, and then related my experience, how I had tried to pray at six o’clock that morning, how each effort had failed, and how I had been led to praise instead.
She said she never heard anything so wonderful, for it was exactly at that time that God’s light had been shed into her soul, and she had indeed been led to Jesus as her Savior.
Imagine how we both rejoiced together, and how we praised the Lord for His goodness. God had led me to speak to her, God had opened my mouth to pray, God had used these humble efforts for His glory, and had, through His blessed Word, led her to see her acceptance in the Savior.
Fourteen years have since passed away, years of trial and testing. She has ripened since then, has stood firm for her Savior, and has even, through much bodily weakness, shone out among friends and acquaintances as one who is not ashamed to testify for her Lord.
I write this to encourage any dear worker for Christ who may have opportunities of speaking for Jesus. If God bids you speak to any soul, do not neglect the opportunity. It may cost you a great effort at first, but God will open the way, and lead you on to glorify Him. Plod on, dear brother or sister, let God lead the way, walk in the way, do all God prompts you to do, and His blessing will support you and make your life a happy psalm of praise.