Do you ever find time to get away by yourself and have some quiet time with the Lord? When my children were at home, I thought it must be impossible to have quiet time with the Lord in our busy, noisy household! But then I heard about Susannah Wesley!
Susannah was born in 1669 and at the age of 19, married Samuel Wesley, who was an Anglican curate and rector in Lincolnshire, England. I also married at the age of 19, but it seems that’s one of the only things Susannah and I would have in common – certainly our Christian beliefs are quite similar, but our lives seem entirely different.
Susannah’s husband, Samuel, preached from the pulpit, yet he couldn’t manage his own household. He and Susannah disagreed on everything from money to politics. They had 19 children. Nine died in infancy. One child was crippled. Another couldn’t speak until he was nearly six years old. Susanna herself was desperately sick most of her life.
Her husband, Sam, angry over the simplest of arguments, often left Susannah alone with the ten children for lengthy periods of time – once for over a year! There was no money for food or necessities. Debt plagued them. Sam was once thrown into debtor’s prison because their debt was so high, which in turn, doubled their problems. They moved many times, twice losing everything in house fires. Church members were suspected of the arson each time because they were so angry at Sam’s preaching from the pulpit! Her son, John, nearly died in one of the fires! Someone slit their cow’s udders so they wouldn’t have milk, killed their dog, and burned their flax field. Through all of those unfortunate years, Susannah worked the gardens, milked the cow, schooled the children and managed the entire house – herself. One of her daughters got pregnant out of wedlock and the man never married her. Susannah was devastated, but she never gave up on her children. In fact, they were her top priority. She was the sole provider of her children’s education, which included Latin, Greek, and all the classics. In addition to educating her children, each evening, she spent time with one child, talking, listening, and caring. In her husband’s frequent absences, she spent Sunday afternoons teaching her children the Bible and worshiping. Her community asked to join, and 50 ore more people gathered around her home. She was known for her writing, as well, including commentaries on The Lord’s Prayer, The Apostle’s Creed, and The Ten Commandments. But what really impresses me is that in the midst of her dreadful situation , she always spent two hours a day in prayer! Two hours! Of course, she struggled to find a quiet place for her prayer time with the Lord. So she advised her children that when they saw her with her apron over her head, it meant she was in prayer and was not to be disturbed.
Certainly the results of Susannah’s prayers are known to us all these years later. Susannah is known as the Mother of Methodism, as Her sons, John Wesley and Charles Wesley, began the Methodist Church and led thousands to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a legacy she left! And her very apron was a part of it!
Wow! I think if Susannah Wesley could find quiet time under her apron in the midst of that busy household, I can find the time and place to be alone with God. How inspiring! Bless you, my friends, as you go to a quiet place and spend time with the Lord.
