Susanna Wesley Prayed Under Her Apron

Susanna Wesley Prayed Under Her Apron

Susanna Wesley was born in London in 1669, the youngest of 25 children. At 19, she married a pastor named Samuel Wesley, and their life was marked by hardship and tragedy. Susanna gave birth to 19 children, but nine died in infancy. Her husband battled depression and was notoriously bad with money, plunging the family into enormous debt, and when Susanna’s father died, he left an inheritance to all of his children except her. Her home burned to the ground twice, and her husband left the family for more than a year out of spite. 

Any one of these challenges could have overwhelmed her with disappointment and bitterness, but instead she devoted herself to a deep faith in God. In her journal, after one of the fires, she wrote, “Help me, O Lord, to make a true use of all disappointments and calamities in this life, in such a way that they may unite my heart more closely with thee.”

Susanna often felt overwhelmed, but somehow she found time to keep her appointment with God. There was nowhere at home she could hide to pray, so when she wanted time with the Lord, she would pull her apron over her head, creating a prayer room where her children knew not to disturb her. While under her apron, she would pour her heart out to God, mourning her tragedies, interceding for her husband, and praying for each of her children. This small act shaped history.

While attending Oxford, her son, John, and his friends became known for their disciplined approach to prayer, Bible study, fasting, and serving the poor. Other students mocked them for being so methodical and gave them a nickname: “Methodists.” What began as an insult eventually became the name of a movement. Known today as the mother of Methodism, Susanna’s influence can hardly be overstated. John would go on to become one of the most influential preachers in history, traveling an estimated 250,000 miles—mostly on horseback—and preaching more than 40,000 sermons. His brother, Charles, became one of Christianity’s greatest hymn writers, penning more than 6,000 hymns, including many that are still sung in churches today. Together, the Wesley brothers helped spark a spiritual revival that spread throughout England and eventually influenced millions of Christians around the world. But it started in a kitchen, with an apron and a woman who carved out space to be with God.