Sometimes we don’t get what we ask in prayer. We get something better. An itinerant evangelist was preaching in England in 1846 on a verse from Mark’s gospel, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours” (Mark 11.24). He said the key to the verse was “to learn to desire God’s desires. God’s foremost desire is that we develop the character of a servant, to help the poor, and to spread the gospel, so that souls might be saved.” Two of those converted that evening were William and Catherine Booth, who later started the Salvation Army.
James Caughey (pronounced Coffee 1810-1891) delivered the sermon just referenced with conviction, having been on the receiving end of a similar moment earlier in life. James worked in a mill in Troy, New York when he converted to Christ and became a Methodist minister. Nothing was noteworthy about his early ministry. A contemporary observed, “His first ministry’s labors were not distinctive by any uncommon results; therefore, his friends and family did not entertain any lofty hopes for his future ministry.” James wrote to a friend in 1839 about finding a wife, “I can find no good reason why I should be singular among my brethren, nor continue to lead a solitary life.” He prayed, “Lord God, if my will crosses thy will, then my will must be wrong, for thine cannot be but right.” His distress lasted three days and he felt as though God had left him to battle it out alone. “On the third day,” he wrote, “I obtained an audience with God.” He had the distinct sense God was telling him, “These matters that trouble thee, must be left entirely alone. The will of God is that you should visit Europe…Visit Canada first and when it is done, sail for England.” He went as directed, preaching six to ten times weekly for six years. Revival accompanied his preaching and people like the Booths were called into Christ’s service.
God answered James’ prayer about marriage by blessing his ministry in profound ways. I can’t find a record of him ever marrying, nor does he ever mention it again. God’s answer seemed sufficient. The following prayer is included in his journal: