“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” Max Lucado
I told you all that I’ve been remembering my Rosey Corner stories because I just finished the narration for Love Comes Home, the only one of the Rosey Corner books that didn’t get an audio contract through the publisher. I don’t have it all edited yet, but I should have it done sometime next month. That book has made me appreciate how Aunt Hattie came to life in those stories and how strong in the faith she was. She could pray down a miracle, but Aunt Hattie knew through life experience that the Lord didn’t always answer prayers in the miraculous ways a person might think he should. But she trusted his answer whatever it was and never doubted that the Lord was right there holding her up through whatever happened.
That’s what she tells Victor in this scene from Angel Sister when he is trying to conquer his drinking addiction. Sunday seemed a good time to share Aunt Hattie insisting Victor pray for the Lord’s help to conquer his demons.
It was hard being sober. Forever sober. Victor had gone without drinking for days at a stretch before, but he’d always known where a bottle was hidden away to give the promise of relief if things got bad. Things always got bad. He didn’t have any bottles hidden away now. He’d broken them all. And he wasn’t going to buy any more. He wasn’t. No matter how much his hands shook. No matter how much it felt like the cooties were crawling around under his skin. No matter how the dreams tormented him. He wasn’t. He’d promised Nadine.
She’d prayed for him. For them. She believed he could quit. All he had to do was find a way to believe it too. And he did. Most of the time. He could quit because he loved Nadine more than life itself. He loved her more than booze. He loved his girls more than booze. And he was trying to love himself more than booze.
He was appealing to the Lord on that one. He whispered Nadine’s simple prayer a dozen times a day. “Lord, here am I. Help me.” So far he had. So far Victor had kept his feet from turning up the familiar path to the place in Rosey Corner where the bottles beckoned. But he still wanted it.
What he needed was for the Lord to take the wanting of it away from him. To erase it from his mind. That’s what he told Aunt Hattie on the third day when she brought a jug of lemonade by the shop. Because it was so hot, she claimed, but Victor figured Nadine had enlisted Aunt Hattie to help pray him through.
“Has you told the Lord that?” Aunt Hattie peered over at him as he chugged down the lemonade.
“What do you mean?” Victor frowned a little as he lowered the jar of lemonade and wiped the sweat off his face with a blue bandana. “Doesn’t he already know what I need? Better than me.”
“Ain’t no doubtin’ that. But that don’t mean he don’t want to hear us ask it.”
“I’m not too good at prayer words.” Victor stared down at the lemon slices floating in what was left of the lemonade. He wondered how many shirts she’d had to wash and iron to buy the lemon and sugar.
“You think the Lord don’t understand common talk? Just speak it out straight.”
Victor could feel her eyes boring into him. He looked up at her. “Now?”
“What better time than when you needs to? Ain’t nobody here but me and you and the Lord. So go ahead. He’s got his ear bent down towards us.”
“All right.” Victor stared up at the ceiling in his shop. It was black from the forge fire. Victor shifted uneasily on his feet and tried to think up what to say with both the Lord and Aunt Hattie listening. At last he pushed out, “Lord, help me stay sober.”
Aunt Hattie gave his arm a little shake. “That ain’t what you’s wantin’ to pray.”
Victor looked at her and then back up at the ceiling. Why was it so hard to lay himself open to the Lord? The Lord already knew him every inch. Inside and out. Even better than Aunt Hattie who had caught him when he was born. “Take this desire to hide in a bottle away from me.”
“Amen,” Aunt Hattie said. “That’s more like it.”
Victor looked down at his hands. His fingers were still trembling. “I don’t feel any different.”
“And you might never. That old thorn might always be pricking you.”
Victor frowned at Aunt Hattie. “Then what good did it do to pray the words?”
“My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. That’s what the good Lord told Paul about his thorn in the flesh. That’s what the good Lord told me when I told him I couldn’t make it without my Bo livin’ and breathin’. Whether he takes the want to away from you or not, his grace will turn your weakness into strength.”
“But what if I’m too weak?” He rubbed his finger down through the moisture on the outside of the lemonade jar. “What if it’s too hard?”
“Ain’t nothing too hard for the Lord. You hear me now.” She poked his chest with a bony finger. “We ain’t promised no easy ride through this life. Life ain’t easy. Ain’t never been since Adam and Eve was thrown out of the garden. Ain’t never gonna be. Leastways not for the most of us. Hard times come.”
And hard times did come in that story and the stories that followed, but through the hard times the Merritt family always had love and the Lord to get them through.
I hope you enjoyed a peek back at Aunt Hattie in Angel Sister. Could be I might share more about her prayers on other posts. My books seem to have some strong prayer warriors in them. Aunt Hattie in these Rosey Corner books. Louis in River to Redemption. And even Aunt Perdie in Along a Storied Trail knew how to pray in spite of her contrary nature.
Since I’m talking about Angel Sister in this post, I’ll do a giveaway. Just leave a comment on one of my posts between now and next Sunday, the 22nd, and I’ll throw your name in my giveaway hat for a drawing for an autographed copy of Angel Sister or one of the other Rosey Corner books, Small Town Girl or Love Comes Home. Even if you already have the book or books, you might know a friend or relative who would enjoy the story. It’s fun to gift a book.
Do you believe prayers make a difference? Do you want to share a time when that was true?
I’ll share one time with you when prayers made a big difference for me and that was when I was sitting with my mother during her final years while her memory was seeping away. She was often combative and unhappy because things were so strange for her. On those days, prayer would sometimes be what got us through.
Comments 26
Prayers make a difference in difficult situations. My husband and I cared for our aunt and uncle for 10 years in assisted living and nursing homes , along with all of the problems that are presented in these circumstances. The Lord always guided us with his perfect timing as each challenge came along during our divinely appointed assignment. When I am weak HE is strong .
Author
Caretakers need to lean on the Lord because as you say, Nancy, those times can be difficult. I felt that often while caring for my mother in her last years. I also felt that as a young married woman with young children and not much money. But somehow the Lord always supplied whenever we had a need like the refrigerator breaking down or an unexpected bill. Money isn’t what’s important in a family anyway although helpful. Love is what is needed.
Thank you, Ann, for including praying people in your stories. We always need a reminder to pray, to pray without ceasing. It seems like those reminders are popping up all over in my life.
I have enjoyed each of your books that I have had the pleasure of reading. I look forward to each new story, meeting new people in new and sometimes familiar places. It is evident that God is working through you. Thank you for weaving scripture and prayer into your stories.
Author
What nice things to tell me, Becky. I do want my stories to be uplifting and encouraging to those who choose to read them.
Those reminders to pray are good in our lives because sometimes we get too busy for our own good. I read once about someone who did what she called “flash” prayers where she would pray randomly for people she might pass on the street even though she didn’t know them. What a gift we can give others when we lift them up to the Lord.
These Rosey Corner stories were my first books of yours that I read. Actually I found Small Town Girl at my local library and checked it out, not realizing it was the second book in a series. I remember sitting on my back porch swing and reading it (at times with my Bible open next to me also so I could read it right along with your book). Knowing so many in my own life who have struggled or are struggling with alcohol addiction, God used this book to speak to my heart in a very personal way. It’s a beautifully written story and reminded me that God is always ready to hear my prayers, give strength where needed, and that change is possible with faith and His help. I am still praying prayers for my loved ones.
Author
Thank you for your kind words, Elizabeth, and I’m glad the story spoke to you in regard to those you love who struggle with addiction. My mother’s family was the inspiration for this book and while it isn’t their story, it does have bits I borrowed from her family history. Like Victor, my grandfather was in WW I. He was a blacksmith and he had a drinking problem for years. I can barely remember him because he died when I was five. Perhaps partly from his lungs being damaged by the gas during WW I.
I remember Angel Sister as having more about Victor’s addiction to alcohol, but I guess Jay had some problems to conquer in Small Town Girl. It’s been a while since I wrote those books. As I said in the post, I have just read Love Comes Home for audio, but when I was looking for Aunt Hattie quotes in Angel Sister, I kept coming across scenes I’d almost forgotten. Lots of other stories under the bridge since that one, but it’s still a favorite of mine.
May your prayers be answered in powerful ways.
Yes, prayers definitely make a difference! Our eyes are turned to our Lord as we pray and we receive strength and hope. I love how, in prayer, He reminds me of scriptures that I need at that particular time. He is always good and always faithful!
Author
That is a blessing, Lauren. I feel that kind of blessing when I’m writing a story and during a scene where a faith moment is needed, the Lord will lead my thoughts to the right Bible stories or verses. The Lord is our strength and hope.
Yes, prayers always make a difference. I couldn’t have gotten through caring for each of my parents until their last breath without them. Thank you for sharing.
Author
A caretaker needs many prayers, Lucy. And what a blessing to lay some of the burdens of caring for others at the Lord’s feet. Prayers do get us through hard times but as others have noted here, it’s also good to pray with thankfulness for the sweet blessings in our life.
I think prayer makes a difference. I can see little things everyday.
I would like to read Angel Sister, that’s one I haven’t read yet.
Author
Then maybe you’ll be the lucky winner of a copy, Connie. I do hope, win or lose, that you’ll find a way to give the story a read.
And yes, prayer does make a difference and watching for those little blessings in our everyday life can make a difference too.
I pray every night, but some mornings I wonder if I finished the prayers or fell asleep. If I fell asleep I pray the Holy Spirit heard me and interceded for me as He knew what my prayer was about.
Author
I read a comment about that once, Donna. About someone trying to pray or have a quiet time with the Lord and falling asleep. This person thought there was no shame or worry in that. Whoever it was thought the Lord understood the need for rest. I like your thought too – that the Holy Spirit carried your prayers on for you.
I really enjoy all of your books and A gel Sister was one of my favorites. Thank you for your reminder to pray about all things!
Author
I’m so happy to know you’ve enjoyed my stories and that Angel Sister was one of your favorites, Dana.
The Bible tells us we don’t have because we don’t ask. And then there’s that verse about the peace that passeth understanding. Life is not always easy and prayers aren’t always answered the way we hope they will be. But we can always depend on the Lord to walk the valleys with us and to be on the mountaintops with us too.
Being as old as I am, and having known Jesus as my savior from a young age, prayer is essential to me! And, even though it doesn’t always change things, it changes me. My mother had Alzheimer’s and I was her caregiver for the last 8 years of her life. Prayer got me through that very tough time. The grace of God was actually tangible many times in those years. Thank you for sharing this, Ann!
(PS: This was my favorite books of yours!)
Author
I’m always pleased when someone says Angel Sister is a favorite book. Of course, I always hope you’ll try my other books too.
I love what you say about prayer, Judi. About it not always changing our circumstances but how it can change us. After walking that Alzheimer’s hard path with my mother for several years, I know what you mean about how prayer helped you get through those caretaking years with your mother. Sometimes when it seemed tough to get through a day I would think about the verse that says the Lord will strengthen us to face whatever it is we must face.
Prayer is something I need to be more conscious of doing, more often then when I’m in need. God is so important to my life and I lean on Him during these difficult times in our country.
Author
Right now there is much need for prayer for our country and the world, Maridele. And I think many of us could be more devoted to a prayer time. The Bible tells us to pray unceasingly in good times and bad. Most of us have both kinds of times in our lives.
Prayers mean a lot to me. I have seen many answered. But what really stands out is that the Lord is always ready to listen to me wherever and whenever I am. He is never “too busy” like people are. He is a great listener and a great answered.
Author
Those are beautiful thoughts, Birdie. People do get busy and forget to listen, or perhaps they listen but then forget to follow up. The Lord, as you say, is only a prayer away. Then again, not really away at all, but always with us and ready to listen and bless.
When my husband was going through renal failure many years back, there were days that lasted forever as I watched him struggle to keep a smile on his face and give me courage. My prayers to God will sometimes short that just said please. And other times my prayers were maybe not as well spoken as I should have. I was taught by my grandmother that you didn’t always have to be pleasing and sweet to God when you had a problem. Some days my problems seemed more than I could handle. But I walked the little trails going up to Mount Hood and some days I cried, others I admit I was angry because there was nothing I could do. As the window of opportunity for a kidney slowly diminished my prayers or answered. He received a kidney from a stranger on the children and I had him almost 10 more years. The interesting part of this is that my prayers are answered for a kidney and it was a blood clot that took him up to be with his savior.
Author
So sorry for the loss of your husband, but glad you had the blessing of those ten extra years with him. Kidney transplants are life changing for people with renal failure. My brother-in-law had one and had many good years after the gift of life from a donor. Sounds as though you had a very wise grandmothers, Dusti. For sure, the Lord can understand our needs and our frustrations.
Yes,prayers definitely make a difference.When I had cancer I don’t know how I would have gotten through the days,and long nights,without the prayers of those I love or those talks I had with God.
Right now I have a friend that is on the vent with Covid,she is more awake than the drs would like so I pray she can feel the prayers that are going up for her.
Author
Prayers do make a difference, Lisa. I know your treatments weren’t easy when you had cancer. I’m so glad you were able to lean on the Lord and that you has many people praying for you. I do hope you are doing all right now and not struggling with Covid.