For many people, when things get tough or they are in despair, when things seem hopeless and nothing that can be done, they finally talk to God; or at least, acknowledging the possibility that He is, they say, “OK, if you can hear me, help me!”
A Lost Boy
A young mother, a self-avowed atheist, went with her family to a weekend fair. It was crowded and she and her husband walked through the booths and exhibits with their six-year old twin boys. They stopped to get some refreshments and, when the mother looked around, one of the twins was gone. She frantically rushed around, calling the boy’s name. When other people realized what was happening, they too began searching for the boy. Half an hour passed. Some policemen came. They asked if there was a recent photo of the boy. The mother held up the remaining twin. “He looks just like this. They are identical.” The mother sat on the ground and wept. Then she was silent. Some minutes later, the crowd parted, and a man approached her, holding the hand of the missing twin.
“He got in line with our boys and then got on the bus with us. When we took a count, we had one boy too many. We knew he was lost.”
The mother hugged her son and laughed and cried. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
By now the twins were tussling with each other and the Dad was shaking the man’s hand and thanking him. Later the mother told her husband: “When I knew he was lost and I thought I would never see him again, I prayed. I prayed to God. I begged Him. And He heard me.”
First Canonized Saint
The murderer nailed to a cross next to the one on which Jesus was crucified and dying had only watched and listened to Jesus for a few hours. He has heard him ask His Father to forgive everyone responsible for His suffering and crucifixion. Despite the certain knowledge of his own horrific pain, of his own impending death, and that there was absolutely no hope for him, he had come to believe in Jesus.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.Luke 23: 39-43).
No Atheists In Foxholes
“There are no atheists in foxholes” is a saying that suggests that times of fear, anxiety or stress in combat can bring people to call out to God. Such a declaration during warfare has been called a “a foxhole conversion.”
There is mention of this saying in several articles and reports after the World War II 1942 Battle of Bataan against the Japanese, an island in the Pacific Ocean. In similar language another version of it was recorded during World War I. President Eisenhower quoted it in a 1954 broadcast.
Hannah: Praying for a Child
Elkanah had a barren second wife, Hannah. His first wife, who had children, insulted, humiliated, and ridiculed Hannah. In her anguish, Hannah pleaded with God for a son “O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life” (1 Sam. 1:11).
Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him. (1 Sam. 1:19-20).
Hezekiah:
Hezekiah, the thirteenth king of Judah, knew that the invading Assyrians had already defeated the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It seemed that the defeat of Judah was inevitable. When Hezekiah became sick and was near death the prophet Isaiah said to him, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” ((2 Kings 20:1).
Despite the prophecy, Hezekiah prayed to God:
Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” After this prayer, God told Isaiah: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David (2 Kings 20:5-6).
Jairus’s Daughter
Jairus was a Jew, a prominent synagogue ruler. His daughter was dying, but Jairus did not pray to God the Father. He publicly asked Jesus for help. “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live” (Mark 5:23).
Jesus knew the little girl was dying, but he delayed, taking time to heal a woman who had had an incurable hemorrhage for 12 years. She believed all she had to do was touch the cloak of Jesus. He told her: “Take courage, daughter, your faith healed you. Go in peace (and be freed from your suffering).” While this was happening, the daughter of Jairus died.
Jesus’s delay was intentional. He wanted to do more than heal the girl. He wanted to test Jairus’s belief in Him. “But Jesus having heard the word that was spoken, saith to the ruler of the synagogue: Fear not, only believe.” (Mark 5:36).
Another Boy
A man brought his possessed son to Jesus. Not even the disciples have been able to cast out the demon. Jesus was the man’s last hope. He made it clear to the man that if he believed in Him, the boy would be delivered from the demon.
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief (Mark 9: 23-24).
Jesus cast out the evil spirit:
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (Mark 9: 25-27).
Job
Job is an example of someone who was despairing, but always maintained his faith and hope in God. He was enduring incredible pain; he was covered with sores; his wife told him to curse God and die; and his so-called friends ridiculed and condemned him as a sinner. He went “about in gloom, without the sun.” (Job 30:28); yet he proclaimed: “I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal.” (Job 27:11).
Despite all that he was going through Job praised God. He never wavered in his trust and hope. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15). “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth.” (Job 19: 25).
God speaks to Job and then tells him he can question Him. But Job’s faith and hope are so strong that he refrains from asking God anything. He simply admits, “I know you can do all things.” (Job 42: 2).
Conclusion
Those who reach the point at which they know all they have left is God believe and pray. They know that with God they’ve got all that they need. They believe what Jesus said: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).
St. Paul tells us that this turning to God will bring peace:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7).
Now, God, you’re all I’ve got left and I believe you will give me peace.
