Little Prayers Have Great Benefits: Gayle's Story

A True Answered Prayer story from Gayle

Gayle and Frank Baxter are pictured in the above photo.

When I was in high school, I spent my spare time formulating a list of what things would make me happy and satisfied. That list was very short.

There were just four items on it: A husband to love me, a house that I enjoyed, a couple healthy kids, and enough money to pay the bills. I was surprised when having everything I wanted wasn’t enough to satisfy me.

My husband (Don) was working an evening shift, and the kids were asleep. In the quietness, I realized how hollow and empty my life seemed. A wise cousin had told me to always take things to God.

Not seeing any other options, I bowed my head and quietly said a short prayer asking God to fix my problem.

Then I told myself that I wouldn’t say anything to my husband about the prayer for fear of making a fool of myself. Peace and satisfaction settled on me, and I forgot about the issue of the prayer.

Three weeks later, as I was cleaning the kitchen, my husband came to me and asked what had changed because things were different. He had seen things that I wasn’t even aware of.

I told him about the prayer and the satisfaction and peace that had come. He told me that was what he wanted. Before my very eyes, I saw a spiritual rebirth.

For four years, we studied and prayed together. He was dedicated to taking everything to God by taking me by the hand and leading me to the bedroom to kneel and pray together.

He would often pull the rocking chair close to the fireplace and thumb through the hymnal and, as he hummed those songs, the atmosphere of the whole house changed.

One morning, a phone call changed my life. He would never come home again.

Poorly-stacked scaffolding where he worked suddenly fell and crushed him. That left our two kids and myself to face life on our own.

In God’s perfect timing, He had prompted us to schedule a meeting with our insurance agent. In that meeting, Don told me he wanted to double his life insurance and should anything happen to him, he wanted me to remarry.

I told him I had no interest in any such thing, but he said he just had to tell me anyway. God had everything in hand since the amount of support I had coming in was within a few dollars of what our family had coming in previously.

On the anniversary of the accident, I prayed a short prayer thanking God that he had seen our family through the first year and asked for His guidance. A friend phoned me and asked what I needed.

I told her I knew that my eight-year-old son was concerned that I couldn’t handle everything. She found a good companion for him who would spend time with him and be a good Christian example.

My son said he enjoyed their time together and also that there was another man with them, but he didn’t know his name.

The day after the prayer for guidance, I felt as if someone tapped me on the shoulder and a voice told me that I was too attached to the house that our family had shared and we should move. The feeling was so strong that I immediately called a realtor friend from church.

She told me about a house of a mutual acquaintance of ours that had been on the market for some time. She was sure it had already been sold, but she said she would keep her eyes open.

Five minutes after we ended our conversation, the phone rang and it was my friend again. She told me that as soon as she had hung up, an agent she knew called and asked if she knew of anyone who might be interested in a certain house.

It was the one she had told me about and since it was owned by an elderly woman from church, I knew that it would be in good condition. And so, with no qualms, I made an appointment to see the house.

The big bonus was the fact that three men were renting the basement, and I knew my son would feel much safer there. Aha – God’s hand appears again.

Before we went to look at the house, we took time to have a birthday celebration for my daughter who was just turning five years old. Upon our arrival at the house that evening, I learned that two of the three renters were not at home.

As I was talking things over with the realtor, the remaining renter came upstairs to say hello. Suddenly my son yelled that this renter is my friend’s buddy.

The buddy introduced himself as Frank Baxter. I instantly knew that this was a good situation for my family and a few days later, Frank helped us move in.

One evening, Frank and I took a short walk outside. As we crossed the street to go back to the house, he said something like, “Good Lord willing, we’ll make it.” That didn’t make any sense to me, but I didn’t ask about it.

Next evening, we were sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace when he leaned over and kissed me. I responded by asking him if that was what he had on his mind the night before and why didn’t he kiss me then.

In typical Baxter humor, he casually told me that he didn’t want to rush things. Nine weeks later, we were married. That was 42 years ago.

See where a little prayer led? I will forever be grateful.

Conclusion

Wow – little prayers can indeed have great benefits! Gayle’s experience certainly shows how God cares about every single detail of our lives.

Oftentimes, when we look back, we can see how God’s hand was working through everything and how He was with us every step of the way. When it comes to negative experiences, we can also see the miracle of how He made something good come out of them.

Reading this powerful story brought the following two verses to mind:

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Gayle’s Favorite Bible Verses

I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Psalm 34:7