Dr. Paige Patterson tells how the renown African-American singer, Ethel Waters, known for her ministry with Billy Graham Crusades, learned about life the hard way. Ethel said that, as a child, she always felt lost and like an outsider. She was born out of wedlock, got into trouble continuously. Ethel described it, “I never was really a child, was never liked or understood by my family, never felt like I belonged, nobody brought me up. I ran wild as a little girl, was real bad, was leader of a street gang, and a general hell-raiser.”

Rev. Williams was preaching at a revival service to which Ethel was invited. On the last night, Ethel pleaded with God to speak to her, which, to her was to be God’s last chance.

The preacher spoke on the riches of Christ and his ability to save anyone from their sins. Something happened—Christ “spoke” to Ethel and she received Jesus as her Savior and was soundly converted to Christianity. From that experience she often sang the familiar words, “Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, / Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home, / When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He; / His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; / His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”²

NOTE: If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer, “Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you that you not only know about the sparrows, but also that you know everything about me—even the number of hairs on my head—and that you care for me more than I could ever realize. Please help me to know and experience your care, your love, and your affirmation of me in the very core of my being. Do this for the glory of your name. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 10:29-30 (NLT).
2. Civilla D. Martin, 1905.