The Lord Hears

The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:17-18

We humans tend to grumble about inconveniences like interrupted electricity or a heat wave. Those are definitely problems, but when a young woman is waiting for the boat that will take her home to England for a furlough and instead a Japanese ship pulls up and takes her captive, that is trouble.

Anne hadn’t been home in nine years. Her mother’s health was fragile, and Anne longed to see Mama, her little nieces and nephews, and other family. The clatter of the Japanese soldiers shook the deck, and Anne felt a rush of panic. But God spoke to her heart, Anne, you’re not going home. You’re going to a Japanese prison camp.

Lord, how long will this last? Will I ever see my family again?

I will be with you, God assured her. Moments later she and the other missionaries and children began a march of hundreds of miles to a remote prison camp. There she spent three and a half years enduring near-starvation, freezing temperatures in winter, and blazing heat in summer. Cruelty, rats, disease, and death surrounded her, but God heard her prayers to protect the children and mothers from rats and gave her strength to teach Bible studies to the women. As she petitioned God to save the souls of the guards, he even gave her opportunities to share the gospel with several. God’s comfort kept her from despair.

After World War II ended, Anne and the surviving missionaries were rescued and released. Although her mother had died during the war, Anne was able to make it home to England to see the rest of her family and gradually recover her health. Then she returned to the mission field, where she served the Lord until old age.

Thank you, Lord, that though we go through many trials in this life, you will sustain and comfort the brokenhearted. You hear us when we call to you for help and are eternally faithful. To him who was and is and is to come, I praise your name.

I do not ask to fly above the storm and sing.

Just let me in the tempest feel the covert of your wings!

Alice Mortenson(1934–2010), Christian writer