There is an old proverb, "He that would learn to pray, let him go to sea." The meaning is that storms will make men turn to God, and it is well when they do. Yet it is better to pray before the storm, for then a man has a sure anchor when the storm breaks upon him.

I called to see a stricken woman. For many years she had lived without any illness at all, but an accident had laid her upon her bed a helpless invalid for life. It appeared to be a sad case, and one calling for pity and sympathy, but what did I find? I found her radiant instead of depressed, giving thanks instead of murmuring. Yes, the calamity had not shaken her faith. She knew whomo she had believed, and when the trouble came she had a Friend and Refuge. She had walked with God in the bright days and she knew that He would not forsake her in the day of trouble.

If you would have Bible incidents to illustrate this, inquire of Daniel, and learn how that when the decree went forth that meant death to him, he opened his windows and kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime (Dan. 6:10). And then inquire of Paul and Silas in the jail at Philippi and learn how that when they were made to suffer the most outrageous injustice, they spent the hours in prayer and praise to God (Acts 16).

These things have been written for our learning, and what lessons they teach and what a Teacher God is. What He was to Daniel and to Paul, He will be to you and to me, even though we be the most obscure and weakest of all His children.

—Selected