It had been twenty-five years since Fontella Bass’s rhythm and blues single ‘Rescue Me’ hit number one in the charts. She had no career to speak of, and she was penniless, tired, and cold. The only heat in her house came from a gas stove in the kitchen. She had strayed from her faith and the church where she started singing gospel songs as a child. As she prayed, Fontella asked God for ‘a sign’ to confirm that He heard her. Suddenly, she heard her hit song ‘Rescue Me’ on a television commercial! To her, it was as if ‘the Lord had stepped right into my world!’ Fontella was unaware that American Express had been using her song in a commercial and hadn’t been able to locate her to pay royalties. Not only did she receive back-royalties, but new opportunities also began to open for her to sing. Shortly after that, she released a new album. But the best news is that she renewed her relationship with the Lord. ‘For so many years I tried doing it on my own, and it didn’t work,’ she said. ‘Then I took it out of my hands and turned it over to Him, and now everything’s happening.’ The psalmist David wrote: ‘In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened, he saved me from all my troubles…Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!’ (Psalm 34:6, 8 NLT). And what God did for David and Fontella Bass, He will do for you if you’ll only turn to Him.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.