Praise in Hard Times

by Anna Galeniece

Can you imagine riding in a carriage when suddenly the wheel shatters and the whole thing tips over? That’s exactly what happened to Ellen White and her friends one summer day in Michigan in 1891.

Willie, Ellen White’s adult son, had been searching for a place to hold a summer Bible school. Mrs. White, her helpers, Sara and Marian, and a free-spirited horse were all riding along toward Harbor Springs. The horse snorted and pawed the ground, full of energy, but Willie held the reins tightly. Their journey seemed fine and enjoyable until they turned a corner.

Suddenly, without any warning, one wheel of the carriage completely collapsed! Every spoke flew out, and the whole carriage tipped over. Picture this! Ellen White and the others tumbled out in a heap—bumping, sliding, landing on top of one another. You might expect screaming, but there wasn’t. Not a word. Just wide eyes and quick thinking!

Mrs. White carefully, on her hands and knees, crawled out over the back seat. Her dress was torn, but not a single scratch was on her! Sara and Marian had some bruises, but amazingly, no one was seriously hurt. Ellen White’s heart pounded with thankfulness as she whispered, “Thank You, Lord, for saving us!”

What about the horse? Instead of running away in fear, she just stood trembling, with a broken carriage shaft still resting across her back. She didn’t run a single step! Ellen White was sure angels were standing nearby, keeping both people and horse calm.

They quickly tied the horse, loosened the straps, and rented another carriage from a nearby rental stable. Shaken but safe, they continued their journey.

Later they examined the broken wheel. To everyone’s shock, it was discovered that the spokes had been poorly made! They didn’t even fit right into the hub. Wooden wedges had been hammered in to make them look solid, and then the whole thing was painted over to hide the mistake. What a fraud! Ellen White thought sadly. We should be able to trust our brothers to do honest work.

But even in her disappointment Ellen White couldn’t stop thanking God. He had protected them in what could have been a deadly accident. She believed an angel of God had stood beside them that day. The lively horse, usually hard to manage, had stayed perfectly still. This was something no one could explain except that it happened by God’s power.

That broken wheel taught Mrs. White two lessons: first, to always deal honestly, without pretending or covering things up. And second, that God’s angels really are near, watching over His children when danger strikes. 

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18).