The wife of Jonathan Goforth, Rosalind Goforth (1864-1942), was not an ordinary missionary wife. After reading her memoirs, Climbing, I am truly humbled. She quite literally continued to choose hardship over comfort, for Manchuria, China in those years was anything but safe or comfortable. **(see note below) In fact, she lost five of her children. I think of the 'mother' in my contemporary culture. We are obsessed with safety for our children. In fact, we live our lives around our fears.
Rosalind chose obedience and trusted God for the rest. What mother do you know would choose to take her children to physical conditions that include cold, disease, bugs, and separation, no privacy, nomadic living? Not me. Strangely enough, while reading this book, I was experiencing extreme discomfort, including headaches, earaches, unable to eat properly, do normal activities. It made me irritable, frustrated and longing to be 'normal' again.
At the beginning of her ministry in China, Rosalind overheard the servants talking about her. It cut her deeply when she heard them say, "If only she would live more as she preaches." Rosalind says "impatience and quickness of speech were my besetting sins". She had thought that all of her sacrifice would have resulted in a change in her disposition. She soon realized that transformation has nothing to do with deeds. It is a heart matter that is dealt with in a relationship with the living God.
This woman submitted to God her all. By the end of her ministry journey, she was overwhelmed when an evangelist made a special journey to enquire of her husband what was the secret of the change in her. Her husband told her, "none of the servants wanted to serve you, but now they all want to be your servants."
She recounts toward the end of her memoirs attending a conference and hearing Charles G. Trumball speak. He asked them to picture 2 lives:
First, an 'up and down life of intermingled victory and defeat".
That sounds pretty much like our Christian walk, doesn't it?
Second, the life God planned with abundant provision: a life marked by victory, not defeat, peace and trust, not struggle and worry.
Did that hit you? The life God planned.
Overcoming.
Victorious.
The overcoming, victorious life in Christ was the normal life God planned for His children.
She had a new realization of Christ as it says in Colossians 1:27:
(NIV) To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
(Amplified Bible) To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.
As I finished reading this book, I sobbed, for my 'discomfort' paled in comparison to what Rosalind faced. I asked God to enable me to live in victory through whatever circumstances, instead of waiting for them to subside or go away. I wanted to learn victorious living in the struggle.
And the secret is, just to let Him live in me, stand on His Word.
Are you too tired of the seesaw?
Will you join me?
It will take time, in fact lots of time...
...to live the normal life.
I eagerly anticipate this.
[**When asked in a women's conference: "We mothers have heard with mixed feelings of Mrs. Goforth's going with her husband on his country tours and of taking her children with her. I should like to ask Mrs. Goforth a question, in the name of other mothers, as well as myself, who want to do God's will--but we do fear for our children. My question is: Have your children suffered as a result of such a life? We hear five of your children have died."
Her response: "I am most thankful for the opportunity to answer this question. The five children who have gone before all died before I began the touring life. Since I began that life, two children have been given us. Further, I have found the children happier and healthier than before. I have found it possible to give actually more time to them than before, for the time necessarily given to keeping up a foreign house may, when outside, be given to the children. I can truly say I know of no harm that has come to any during these eight or nine years of that life. Not one has contracted any infectious disease and, best of all, God has set His seal upon this plan of work by giving a harvest of souls everywhere we have gone."]
Words and Music by E.M. Bartlett
© 1939 - Administrated by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.
All rights reserved 1 Corinthians 15:57
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
- I heard an old, old story, How a Savior came from glory, How He gave His life on Calvary To save a wretch like me; I heard about His groaning, Of His precious blood's atoning, Then I repented of my sins And won the victory.
- Chorus O victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever. He sought me and bought me With His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him And all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood.
- Chorus O victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever. He sought me and bought me With His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him And all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood.
- Chorus O victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever. He sought me and bought me With His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him And all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood.
2 comments:
Christianity in China is small, but very strong. I know that Chinese Christians can sell to Europe about 1000 missionaries. It is embarassing for Europe - the continent which was proud about this tradition...
Zimbabwe, because of the groundwork done by these missionaries in early times (incl. Hudson Taylor)in China--the underground Church is as strong as ever. Persecution cleanses and strengthens. Praise God for His faithful servants.
And yes, it was Europe that first began sending out missionaries--now alas..Europe needs the gospel...
Blessings to you...
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