Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer

by S.B. Shaw

This 19th century book is a book about answered prayers, how God has answered prayer in ordinary people’s lives. The stories can comfort, inspire, and warm your heart. It a book that reminds Christians that God never forgets to care for the abandoned, the old, the sick, the young, and the persecuted. Shaw’s also show that God may answer prayers in ways we do not expect, it is very touching and remarkable.

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1895

Reviews

[Stephanie Weisgerber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by all of the stories in this remarkable book, all of which are true accounts. The degree to which the saints used to humble themselves and pray was truly convicting. If only we could seek the Mercy Seat and boldly make our petitions to the Lord in like manner, we would undoubtedly see the miraculous fruit in our lives. Highest Recommendation made for every believer to read this book.

[Matthew Weathers]

I started reading this just for the novelty of reading something sort of obscure from the 1890's. It's a collection of unrelated stories about how God answered the prayers. I read it not so much for the stories themselves, but for the tone of writing, to see their assumptions and beliefs. Some of the stories have the feel of urban legends: "I have it on good authority, that this one preacher said,..." etc. And some of the incidents seem to have been chosen for maximal emotional impact. Usually the protagonists are faithful, praying women, or poor, sick children.

A representative example: on page 34 we read about this poor, dear child whose mother had died and whose father forced him to steal for a living. He's found hiding in an abandoned, dark tenement house. He had decided to stop stealing food because he had heard "thou shalt not steal" at a mission school, and was hiding from his father who would beat him if he didn't steal. He says "'Thank you sit; but please, sir, would you like to hear me sing a little hymn?' Bruised, battered forlorn, friendless, motherless, hiding away from an infuriated father, he had a little hymn to sing." I can imagine matronly Christian women reading this with tears in their eyes - the poor little dear!

And if that weren't heart-wrenching enough, here's the end of that story: The benefactor goes away to find a place for this poor fellow to say: "The gentleman went away, came back again in less than two hours, and climbed the ladder. There were the chips, and there was the little boy with one hand by his side, and the other tucked in his bosom, underneath the little ragged shirt -- dead."

So yes, it's easy to make fun of some of the stories. But if you are a person who believes God can and does actually heal people, like I do, then you'll find some of the stories living up to the title.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing was sugar coated in those days.

It is a book from my collection of old books and it is dated May 11, 1895. 128 pages of mostly sadness, but also deliberate and unflappable faith. Death of children is too much to take. Hunger and extreme poverty. The last poem almost broke me. I told my friend that these stories were so sad. She replied with: Yes, I can only imagine. But I guess the point is that God is present even in the most difficult of circumstances.

So, it was a good read because we think times are difficult now... No they are not.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who needs a little encouragement. I love the stories!