Another friend had suggested to Mrs. Graham the propriety of opening a boarding-house in Edinburgh, which he thought could, through his influence, be easily filled by students.

She saw obstacles to both:  a boarding-house did not appear suitable, as her daughters would not be so likely to have the same advantages of education as from a boarding-school; and to engage as an instructress of youth on so large a scale, with so many competitors, appeared for her an arduous undertaking.

In this perplexity, as in former trials, she fled to her unerring counsellor the Lord, her covenant God.  She set apart a day for fasting and prayer.  She spread her case before the Lord, earnestly beseeching him to make his word “a light to her feet and a lamp to her path,” and “to lead her in the way in which she should go;” especially that she might be directed to choose the path in which she could best promote his glory and the highest interests of herself and her children.  On searching the Scriptures, her mind fastened on these words in John 21:15, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?  He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.  He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”

Never, perhaps, was this commandment applied with more filial confidence, or accompanied with a richer blessing, since the days of the apostle, than in the present instance.

Her determination was accordingly made.  She resolved to undertake the education of youth, trusting that her Lord would make her an humble instrument of training some for his service on earth, and his praises in heaven.  Here was exhibited an instance of simple yet powerful faith in a believer surrounded by temporal perplexities, and of condescension and mercy on the part of a compassionate God.  Light unseen by mortal eyes descended on her path.

How weak, perhaps enthusiastic, would this have appeared to the busy crowd, blind to the special providence exercised by the God of heaven towards all his creatures.  She felt the pressure of her affliction; but, like the Psalmist, gave herself unto prayer: 

“Prayer ardent opens heaven, lets down a stream
Of glory on the consecrated hour
Of man in audience with the Deity.”

Though her faith was strong, yet her mind was under such agitation, from her total want of funds to carry her plan into effect, and from other conflicting exercises, as to throw her into a nervous fever, which kept her confined to her bed for some weeks.  On her recovery, she felt it her duty to go forward, trusting that He, who had directed her path, would provide the means that were necessary to enable her to walk in it:  she sold her heavy furniture, packed up all her remaining effects, and prepared to set out from Paisley for Edinburgh on a Monday, in the year 1779.

On the Saturday previous she sat by her fire musing and wondering in what manner the Lord would appear for her at this time, when a letter was brought to her from Mr. Peter Reid, enclosing a sum of money which he had recovered from the underwriters, on account of Mrs. Graham’s muslins captured on their passage to the West Indies.  Mrs. Graham had considered them as totally lost, but her friend had taken the precaution to have them insured.