Chapter XII

Glorify God in Little Things

"Fear not, I will help thee." Isaiah 41:13

A number of years ago I bought a house. A young man staying in my home was tending the furnace for me. He told me the handle that fastened on to the grates was broken; that it would not stay on. He had to tap the grates to get the ashes down. I had no money for new parts.

About the middle of winter he was transferred to another city for several weeks. He was concerned because he did not know how I could manage the grates of the furnace. I said, "Let us go down and you show me how you do it." He did show me and he went away.

The first time I had to shake the ashes I lay down on the floor to see what I was doing. I took the long poker and tried to do the job. It was impossible for me to manage that unwieldy implement. I made up my mind what must be done. I put the handle on the grates and said, "Dear Lord, this work must be done. Please keep this handle in place." I shook carefully. It stayed on. Each time I used it, I asked the Lord to keep it there and I thanked Him when He did. From that time on there was no trouble with it.

Several weeks later, the young man returned. He asked me how I had managed and I told him the story. In the spring I asked him how he was managing. He replied the handle still worked. "How do you account for it?" I asked. He answered, "I see no other solution than what you told me. Your prayer was answered." He was not a Christian. Later, I learned that my neighbours were also tapping the grates, as their handle wouldn't work.

Another answer to prayer has been a great help to me since coming to this building. Before I came I said one day, "Dear Lord, you know how afraid I am of automatic elevators. Yet I must use them and get accustomed to them. I am going to pass that fear over to you to take from me."

Each time I stepped into the elevator, I asked the Lord to take me safely. When I left it, I thanked Him. As the elevator reached the desired floor, a few seconds elapsed before the door opened. That nervousness would come. Then I said, "Dear Lord, this is not complete, take away all the fear," and He did.

I still ask Him and thank Him. We need to call upon Him constantly. Many use the elevators without giving it a thought, though the elevators do stop between floors from time to time. Some have cried out, "Let me out, Get me out." Others prefer to climb the stairs. It certainly wasn't anything in me that gave me confidence. It was taking and claiming the exceeding great promises, "I will trust and not be afraid." Isaiah 12:2. "For He hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind," 2 Timothy 7. "He that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6.

On another accasion, when shopping, I became tired to the point of being ill. My parcels were too heavy. While waiting for the bus, I asked God to see that some one would help me when we reached the apartment building.

As I stepped from the bus, a stranger, a large, robust woman said to me, "Let me carry those parcels." When we reached the building that lady was stopped at the first floor. Another one, a stranger, said to me, "I am going on the elevator, I'll take them the rest of the way." She brought them right down the long hall to my door. Oh why do we fail our Lord when He cares so much for us? Why do we not trust Him fully? Down through the years, God's children can unite in saying:

"The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life." Psalm 42:8

Often our spiritual literature collects. We hesitate to throw it away. This was my situation three years ago. I asked the Lord to direct. A day or so later in the church calendar, was a notice that our home missionary needed this material. I phoned her office and after telling her, she said, "I have just been saying to the Lord, "I wish I knew where I could get some spiritual literature." Answer to prayer, both ways. Speedily too.

I was sending a parcel to India. The maximum weight was 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Mrs. Kew, my dear friend, helped me make up a neat parcel, tying it securely. I had intended to weigh it before tying, but forgot. After it was all ready, I weighed it on a neighbour's scales. It was 6 pounds and 1 ounce. Mrs. Kew took it to the Post Office. It weighed exactly 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Had I remembered to weigh it before tying, I might have added more literature, causing the extra bother of bringing it back home. See how God's Hand was on that parcel! No guessing could have done that.

"He who cares for the lily, and heeds the sparrows fall, Shall tenderly lead His loving child, For He made and loveth all."

A friend, living in this building, told me of a time when she was shopping. As she took articles from the shelf, a certain person's name kept coming into her mind. It was so persisting that as she bought for herself she duplicated it. Later when delivering the groceries to the lady's home, the latter said, "God answered prayer. I had practically no food in the house and no money."

I must recount one episode that was of great interest to a number of people. Several churches united during the Week of Prayer. For the Sunday service, a minister, holding very liberal views, distasteful even to some of the modern people, had been invited as speaker.

The chairman did not know about this man. When he heard he regretted very much the invitation. He very humbly told God in prayer, a mistake had been made.

A number of praying people believed God could do something about it. One Christian said, "We shall storm the gates of heaven with prayer, that something would keep the man from attending the service."

Sunday morning, 5 a.m., I awakened and went to the window and began to rejoice and praise the Lord. During the night, there had been the heaviest snow fall of the season. Driveways and streets were blocked, churches closed for the day. So God worked by a storm! How many times God has used the elements to answer prayer. Even in world events. People who had been concerned, rejoiced.

A few weeks ago, I was praying for Israel, one night. I was very tired and could say no more than, "Dear Lord take care of Israel." Instantaneous was the promise, "He that keepeth Israel, shall neithr slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:4 I fell asleep on that promise.

Yes Christ is interested in every minute detail; our going out and coming in, Psalm 121:8. Our walking and our sitting down. Psalm 139:2. Our sleep, Psalm 4:8. Work, recreation, all are of interest to Him. There are so many promises to verify this.

I have found His aid and guidance in the simple tasks, trusting His Word. Many times I have cause to lift my voice in thanksgiving because He has prevented some accident.

It is impossible to recount all the different ways my Saviour proved His Presence and willingness to undertake. It is true for others, beyond numbering, I believe from little children we begin to ask His help in many ways. Trifling, perhaps to some but very important to the suppliant. Each time I am filled with joy and gladness at the revelations of His consideration in our welfare. He has said, "Before you call, I will answer." Isaiah 65:24.

One thing can be mentioned, asking Him to help us find things. I have many Christians testify to the fact that it had been done innumerable times. Sometimes the lost, or mislaid article was of little value, sometimes of more value.

I shall write of only one incident.

A few years ago we had been shopping. After returning to the apartment, I looked down and saw the diamond had dropped from the setting in my ring. At once I asked God, if it were in the room to help me find it. A search of table and floor did not disclose it. Being very tired, I lay down to rest. Two friends walked along the corridor looking for it. This was Saturday.

I did not seem to be deeply concerned over the weekend, though it was my husband's gift to me and a good one. I thought, it is a material thing after all.

Monday morning I began to think about it again. I really believed I had lost it on the street. Once more I spoke about it to the Lord. At once, for no apparent reason, I stopped what I was doing, went to the closet, opened the door. Down on the floor was a scrap of cotton that I had seen there for several days but had left it there. Careless house keeping I must admit. That morning I stooped, without any premeditation and picked it up. I felt something under it and at once knew it was the diamond.

Why the Lord did not direct me to it on Saturday, we cannot say. Perhaps He was testing me to see if I would put too much value on material things and be unduly concerned.