GOD’S FAITHFULNESS.
BY LOUISE M. F. BAIRD.
One of my
earliest experiences in regard to healing, as a special answer to the prayer of
faith, occurred thirteen years ago. My oldest child, then a babe of eleven
months, was severely ill with inflammation of the lungs. I did not employ a
physician; I was so fearful some inadvertence on his part might result in the death
of my baby; but I worked and prayed for my little one, seemingly all in vain,
for every hour the disease made unwavering progress. Towards the close of the
second week of his illness, I felt I must know if Jesus would spare my child to
me, and I knelt beside his couch, and earnestly besought God, in Jesus’ name,
and for His sake, to restore him to health. Very soon God graciously gave me
the witness that my prayer was heard, and as I looked at my baby a swift change
passed over his countenance, and recovery was from that moment rapid.
A year or two
later a dear sister was attacked with influenza, which seemed to be virulent in
its nature, and assumed the form of an epidemic in the vicinity where she
resided, several dying from its effects. As M. did not rally, her friends
employed three physicians, successively, to investigate her case. They each
said that tubercles had been forming on her lungs for a year past, that she
could not recover, and that all we could do would be to make her comfortable;
that on her left lung a spot, large as the palm of a man’s hand, was just ready
to commence bleeding. Every symptom of quick consumption speedily manifested
itself. The hectic flush, night sweats, racking cough, and stooping, emaciated from,
all told us our dear one must soon leave us.
She was seized
with congestive chills, so severe, that she would faint away, her hand would turn
back to her wrists, and she could only be restored to animation by the viperous
exertion of her attendants. Her liver was also much affected. She became so
reduced that she could take no nourishment except a little milk, and finally,
for several days, her medicine was the only sustenance she received.
All who knew of
her case were daily expecting to hear of her death. She was very dear to me and
I felt I could not give her up, if Jesus would spare her, so I knelt before
Him, and told Him, that when He was on earth He healed “all manner of
diseases,” that enough there was no possibility of her recovery, humanly
speaking, yet His arm was not shortened that it could not save, nor His ear
heavily that it could not hear, that it would be easy for Him to speak the word
that should make her whole; and as I prayed my faith took a stronger hold on
God, I besought that she might not only be restored to health, but (this was in
June and she lived nearly fifty miles distant) that she might soon visit me. As
I plead the precious promise and claimed them for my own, the answer came swift
and clear, that my Heavenly Father, for Jesus’ dear sake, had heard my
cry, and granted my petition. My soul was melted in love and gratitude to God,
and I shouted His praises, as I rose from my knees, and trustingly awaited the
next intelligence from M. In about a week I received a letter stating, that by
being propped with pillows, she had been able to ride a mile. She rapidly
recovered, and in a few weeks I had inexpressible happiness of welcoming her to
my home, and many a happy woodland ramble did we take, sometimes walking nearly
a mile.
She continued for
some time to be very fragile in appearance, and, about two years later, thought
she would test the condition of her lungs by an application of electricity. She
was given a very light charge, when she fell unconscious. The operator was much
alarmed and said her condition was critical; that she had examined a young
lady, not nearly so delicate, who had died within six months afterwards.
That fall M. grew
quite emaciated and some who did not understand her case spiritually, thought
she was “going to die now;” but her faith was strong-she would take no
medicine, relying on Jesus’ name alone. She rallied, and now, looking at her,
one would never think that she had once been near death with consumption. About
two years since, she took a severe cold which created a sore spot in the back
of her throat that continued a year. I tried to persuade her to take something for
it; she refused, as she will take not medicine for any indisposition whatever,
and as I listened to her strong words of faith, and felt the Holy Spirit
powerfully present as she spoke, I knew I might trust her, without another
anxious thought, forever in God’s hands.
M.’s case during her
sever illness, excited deep interest wherever she was known, many and fervent
were the prayers of God’s children for her recovery, and great was the
astonishment of her physicians at her restoration to health.
How cheering, the
knowledge that we have “a High Priest who can be touched with the feeling of
our infirmities,’ and who bids us “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
