Answered Prayers Build Faith

Nothing builds our faith quite like answered prayers! Some answers are dramatic; others come so softly we may tend to overlook them. God may speak in “a still small voice” or He may choose to “work in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.” The answers may affect families or, as the following story from history, they can affect a nation.

George Washington was known as the “Praying General,” and there were many occasions when his prayers were desperately needed. One such time occurred when the largest enemy expeditionary source of the 18th century was poised to attack New York. Thirty-two thousand British soldiers, led by General Howe, were ready on Staten Island to wipe out Washington and his 8,000 men.

General Howe had Washington surrounded in a semi-circle with his back to the East River, which was nearly a mile wide and far too deep to cross on foot. Defeat seemed certain.

Washington and his men knelt in prayer. And at that point one of the most amazing episodes of intervention in the Revolutionary

War occurred!

Two things happened. First, General Howe, believing time was on his side, delayed the attack for two days. Second, Washington decided to retreat by secretly evacuating his troops at night across the East River. All night under a full moon, small boats carried troops, supplies, wagons, and horses, and artillery out of the reach of British guns. But when dawn broke, many of the regiment still had not been evacuated. A clear, cloudless day would reveal their retreat, making them an easy target for Howe's soldiers.

General William Tallmadge in Washington's army left this written record of what happened next. “At this time a very dense fog began to rise and settle in a peculiar manner over both encampments. It was so thick I could not see six yards in front of me. This allowed us to complete the transfer of our men across the river. It took 36 hours! As soon as we had all the men and supplies across, the fog lifted as quickly as it had come – leaving 32,000 shocked Red Coats on the shore. Eight thousand men had escaped certain death without the loss of a single life.”

It is always good to be reminded that God has not changed – He still answers prayers today!!