How Mothers Pray

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Category: General | Aug 1977

It has been said that the hand which rocks the cradle rules the world. Of the truth of this we are unsure, but we are certain that greater things have been wrought by a mother's prayer than this world realizes. John Newton, author of "Amazing Grace", lost his mother, the one clear guiding-star of his early life, at the age of seven. But up to that time she prayed with him, and for him, every day. Faithfully she sowed the good seed of the word of God in the fertile soil of this young life, and she grieved on her deathbed at leaving him to the mercy of a rough world. He wrote later: "In evil long I took delight, unawed by shame or fear"; and sin brought him to the lowest depths of degradation. He became the slave of a slave woman, and he fed on the crusts of bread which she threw to him under the table. During a terrible storm when the ship in which he served threatened to capsize, Newton began to pray. His mother's example and godly instruction were bearing fruit in strange circumstances. He cried for mercy, and "the Lord came from on high and delivered me out of deep waters", he was to write later. He was certainly the most suitable person to pen the memorable words,

"Amazing grace how sweet the sound,

Which saved a wretch like me".

But for the prayers of Hannah, one of Scripture's great women of faith, and the spectacular answer she received, it is questionable if her husband, Elkanah, would ever have found mention in the divine record. Dispirited, heartbroken, tormented, this godly soul shed copious tears, but she did not relax her faith in God. Although afflicted by an inability to have children, she prayed, and prayed, and prayed for a son. "Is anything too hard for the LORD"? (Gen. 18:14). "With God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26). These two scriptures seem so suited to her case. She held on to the invisible cord of faith which joined her to the throne of heaven.

Do you sometimes ask, as the disciples once asked, "Lord, teach us to pray"? Listen in to Hannah, and learn a precious lesson. "0 LORD... look on the affliction of thine handmaid ... remember me, and not forget ... give unto thine handmaid a man child..." (1 Sam. 1:11). Look! Remember! Give! were pleadings of faith, and it is then written:

"She continued praying before the LORD: ... she spake in her heart; only her lips moved ... I poured out my soul before the LORD" (vv. 12-15). There was no giving up with this dear woman until her prayer was answered, and her hope realized. Then follow these revivifying words: "and the LORD remembered her" (v.19). Encouraging words, too, for all who plead at the eternal throne.

Wonderful is the change in the soul which receives an answer to prayer. This was true of Hannah, whose name means, gracious, merciful, restful. God gave her a son, the longing of her heart, and she called his name Samuel ("heard, or asked of God"). How long Hannah prayed we know not; but the delay in God's answer, and the resulting reproach from others, did not cause her to faint in her soul. Notice her words to aged Eli:

"I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my perition" (vv.26,27). Standing and praying, seem to typify Hannah. This shows a determination, a patience, an expectancy of faith. And having received her answer, this praying woman became a worshipping woman (v.28, RVM).

We should not underestimate the prayer of a mother for her son, or for a son. Mrs Newton's prayer life had its influence on son John who, in turn, by his Christian life greatly influenced such men as Cowper, Wilberforce, and Buchanan. The last named evangelized the East Indies and wrote a book which moved Judson to visit Burma. And what shall we say of Hannah? Her son became a great prophet like unto Moses. "But a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her in the gates".

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Aug 1977
General