Personally, I've found that one of the quickest cures for an episode of self-pity--of feeling like no one could possibly have ever suffered as I have suffered--is to pick up the story of a person who truly has suffered for the sake of Christ--and suffered well. Should you be looking for such a cure yourself, I would recommend Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II by Darlene Deibler Rose. In 1938, on her first wedding anniversary, twenty-one-year-old Darlene and her first husband, Russell Deibler, arrived in the East Indies on the island of Java. This was only a temporary stopover; ultimately, they hoped to serve as missionaries on the island of New Guinea and bring the good news of Jesus Christ to those who had never heard. Darlene was the first American woman to go there, and the natives marveled at her white skin.
But the missionaries' remote location did not protect them from the terrors of World War II, and eventually the Japanese invaded their island home and put the men and women in separate prison camps. Faced with hardships that most of us will never experience, Darlene remained steadfast in her love for and trust in God. Already separated from Russell, she then is separated from her mentor, an elderly missonary who is like a father to her, when he is taken to a different prison camp: "Be a good soldier for Jesus Christ," he tells her, and she certainly is for her four years of tremendous hardship in the prison camp.
Our natural response is to look at someone like Darlene and tell ourselves that we could never be that courageous or strong in similar circumstances. It's true that Darlene was an incredibly courageous, faithful young woman who never doubted or lost confidence in her Lord, when many would have felt that they had been forsaken. But when I read a story like this one, I realize that God truly gives his people what they need to persevere in incredibly difficult situations, and should he call any of us to suffer in this way, we would find his strength sufficient as well. We see the benefits and effectiveness of prayer, as Darlene often throws herself on the mercy of her God--and He always provides what she needs, whether it's food, information, or protection from death. She recalls Scripture passages and hymns that comfort her in dark days. She earns the respect and even admiration of the Japanese commander of the camp, and she takes the opportunity--at great personal risk--to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with him.
This is an inspiring story of God's faithfulness to one young woman in the midst of tremendous trials and how she, in turn, serves as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
The book is available for purchase here.
