Part 4.
About a week after Sarah had told us Cod’s wonderful answer to her prayer, a gentleman from a neighboring town called upon us. He was a Christian man, and our conversation turned upon prayer; we mentioned Sarah, and asked if he knew her.
“She is a wonderful woman,” our visitor replied. “Many years ago, God used me to help her. Let me tell you the story in a few words.
“Curiously enough, God brought about her relief through my missing a train. I had been in this town for one night, and had purposed to return home by the last train, but I missed it by one minute. Consequently I could not get nearer to my home than the next village, four miles from here; the rest of the way I had to walk. It was a bitter night in December, and as I left the little station I almost shrank before the wind and driving snow. My shortest way led me past Sarah Coulston’s cottage. On approaching it I heard her voice raised and thinking that someone was bothering her, I paused to listen. In a few moments I knew it all, for the poor woman was earnestly praying for help to her Heavenly Father. ‘Thou canst not break Thy word,’ I heard her say; ‘Thou hast promised to stand by the widow and the fatherless: Thou knowest, Lord, I have no coal, no food, no meat, no money, and unless Thou dost help us, we shall starve. Lord, help us; help us Lord.’
“My first impulse was to knock at the door and give her a few dollars; but I felt led to hold back, and to send her the exact things she had asked for. So, in the morning, I called up the shop folk and sent her what she needed as she told you; yet there is more than that, Sarah will ever thank God for her night of trial; but so will I, for it is true that the liberal soul shall be made fat.’”
Dear reader, let this story be the means of increasing your faith in God. In dark days never lose heart but always remember that God works when honest faith lays hold of Him.
“He never is before His time,
And never is behind.”
ML 11/25/1917