VICTORY THROUGH FAITH.
BY J. A. K.
The storm sweeps
through the forest and the grand old trees sway and bend under its influence.
It ceases, and we see the bended tree standing more proudly erect than before;
the leaves glistening with their new baptism of strength, and the branches
reaching out glad arms of power. Why? The storm did not uproot the
swaying oak, but only caused it to take deeper hold and gather new life
from the agitated elements. If we are “rooted and grounded in Christ,” “the
trials and temptations which beset us will only add force and energy to our
Christian life and prove to us often a means of growth.”
The first of May
I went into a very malarial climate; my system yielded to the change, and the
fourth day after my arrival I had three chills, followed by feverish tossing. I
realized myself to be very sick, but was confident that He who had before
spoken me back to life, when so hear death’s doors, was able to keep
that which I had committed to Him, and that this experience would be sanctified
to my own good and that of others. The day following the chills was one of
weakness, and the night as it came on brought great pain and distress to my
whole body. The whole night I was in a chill. How precious the promises which
came to warm my heart! My mother, who came to my bedside in the early
morning, felt I must use some remedies. But I answered her I had
a Physician who knew the case and would apply the needed relief. She tucked me
up, with loving care, and left me, with a prayer; I knew that relief would come
speedily. I fell asleep and awoke in two hours in a profuse perspiration and
feeling quite well. I could not but recall the many efforts which had been made
in previous years, when similarity afflicted, to produce perspiration, and never
with the least success. Later in the day, upon lying down, and falling
asleep, I again awoke in a perspiration, and thus ended the malarial attach,
which ordinarily lasts from three to four weeks. The following week I went into
the country and took on a severe cold; at once I had symptoms of the old
bronchial difficulty of which I was Healed Feb. 17, 1880. I did not feel to
doubt the Lord, but the trial seemed very great. I had come home, and oh! How I
longed that the healing which I had claimed should be apparent. Now, in
looking back, I can see how unbelieving hearts would be led to see my utter
dependence upon God, and give Him the praise for the help I did receive.
Steadily “looking unto Jesus” I did every duty that presented itself. One night
as soon as I dropped into a doze my lungs would seem to collapse, and I would
awake beating the air for relief. “I cried unto the Lord” and the memory of the
sweet peace which came to me fills my heart with gratitude as I write. In two
days I was to return to the city of E. and form there go by stage into the
country eight miles to attend a meeting of the Women’s Foreign Mission Society
and deliver an address. My friends said “You cannot go.” I replied that the
engagement had been made through Divine direction and I could not give it up
unless I was confined to my bed. I took the trip, leaning hard on Jesus,
feeling restful and trustful in the strong arm which seemed, so surely,
my support. The day preceding the evening I was to speak, I could not utter a
word without coughing, and the enemy would continually suggest “How then shall
you be able to speak in the evening?” But I was enabled to look to the Lord,
and believe that what He had given to me to do He would give me strength
to do; how, it was not possible to understand. The suggestions were numerous,
that such simple things as torches or a glass of water would not be remedies,
but the Spirit within me said, “If relief should come, then the enemy and those
who do not believe will says ‘the relief came from the remedies.’” No! the work
I represent is the Lord’s and He shall be my strength or the promise will fail.
“My grace shall be sufficient, for my strength is made perfect in
weakness.” Is there a soul waiting expectantly to see if He is faithful
who hath promised? All praise be unto His dear Name! the strength which came to
me was not from within, for I was perfect weakness. It did not
come from remedies, for I did not use anything. “I cried unto the Lord
and He heard me, and delivered me.” “My heart trusted in Him and
I was helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song
will I praise Him.” Through the address of forty minutes there was not the
least tendency to a cough, while my voice was natural and at times strong. I
did not fail to give God the glory, and I thought the victory had come. I
rested very comfortably through the night, but during the ride of eight miles
back to the city I coughed incessantly. IN the afternoon I again took the train
and returned to my home. That night I was not able to get any sleep because of
my distressing cough. The next day was full of work which had accumulated
during my three weeks’ absence. Any number of letters to answer, sick ones to
visit, etc. What should I do? Nurse my cough, take care of myself, or do the
duties which were waiting to be done? Should I rest, or go and minister to
those who seemed to need me? The command came to go, and so I went, feeling
like one blindfolded and led how whither they knew not. Now instead of bringing
all the pains and aches to the surface of this long trial of my faith, I wish I
could make plain the rest and peace I found in trusting where I could not trace
Him. He bade me go, and I went, taking up any work that came. In our
Faith-meeting it devolved on me to lead the singing. The voice came from the
Lord when I opened my mouth. A dear old lady in one of my calls asked me
to sing with her as well as pray. I opened my mouth and the Lord sent forth the
sound. Though I continued to cough incessantly I left nothing undone, but
walked, leaning on Him; and He did not fail me, in a single instance.
Saturday night there was no sleep for me, my cough was so distressing and I felt
my prostration more keenly. The morning dawned at last with every weakness upon
me I had ever known, and I had been through the whole catalogue. In my weakness
Satan came to me and tried to show me it had been presumption to allow this
cough to run, and said “now you are where you must rest, and no doubt
you will be here for a long time to come. For a little time the Lord seemed to
hide His face from me, and the tears would fall, but soon I was permitted to
feel that the sympathetic heart of Jesus still beat for me and that the trial
of my faith would bring a blessing. I said “Lord, go with me and I can go
through the precious privileges of this holy day.” The first meeting was at ten
o’clock, which took me up a long flight of stairs, very hard to climb. Every
step I took was one step gained. The meeting in that “upper room” was a
very precious one. Then came public service and after that Sunday school with a
young men’s Bible class to teach. Every exercise of faith brought strengthened
and I went home full of thankful ness. In the afternoon while in pray and
meditation the complete victory came. My cough left me, every difficulty was
removed. I felt strong and well and have been ever since. The lessons were many
which I learned through those three weeks of trial. Sweetest of all comes the
assurance that what He bids me do He will surely give me grace to perform. When
He bids me go, I must not argue about my feelings but promptly obey,
leaving the result with Him. Oh! You who live daily, yes, hourly, depending
upon His strength, be assured that it will never fail you, and boldly
life the life of faith.
Fredonia, N.Y.
