Such was the answer which an old lady, who has known the Lord for many years, gave to my question as to her welfare. “Yes, God is good. This I have believed and experienced, and am convinced, according to the Word of God, that it could not be otherwise. When I read the Bible, it appears to me that there is written on every page, ‘God is good.’ The ways of God with His people Israel testified to this truth. Above all, the giving of His well-beloved and only Son, for us poor hell-deserving sinners, proclaimed His unspeakable kindness. My faith in the goodness of God was truly often put to the test, for I have had to pass through circumstances in which, more than once, the question presented itself: ‘Do you still believe that God is good?’ But I have always been given to answer: ‘Yes, I believe it,’ and today, with a thankful heart, I can add that my trust in His goodness has never been put to shame. My faith was tried as gold in the furnace. Often the trials seemed long, but they only worked for good. If you will listen, I will tell you of an incident through which my faith in the goodness of God was not only strengthened, but in which its magnitude and glory were marvelously manifested.”
Naturally I was willing to listen to the kind old lady. She reflected a moment and then began: “I have been a widow for many years. When God took my dear husband from my side, I was left with an only son. He was my joy and comfort. I set my hope, so far as earthly things were concerned, entirely upon him. My daily prayer for my boy was, that God might save him. Relying upon His goodness, I believed that He would answer my prayer. But the years passed. My son left school, and entered an apprenticeship with a ship-builder. However, my prayer was still unanswered. He did not show the slightest interest for the things of God. This was a severe disappointment. Sometimes I was utterly cast down, but having confidence in God’s mercy, I did not cease to pray. There was nothing else that I could do for him. In this manner several years passed. Instead of being converted, he took a firmer stand against the Word of God. I well noticed how he preferred to associate with his worldly-minded companions, and chose rather to go to places of amusement, than to stay with me and listen to what I read to him out of the Scriptures, or told him about the goodness and love of the Savior, “One day something awful happened. In the morning my son went to work, well and sound as usual. But how quickly a misfortune may happen. Soon after, a messenger came and brought the report that he had fallen from a mast, and broken several ribs. You can imagine how frightened I became. My first thought was, ‘Where will his soul go if he dies?’ Then I heard a voice within me—it was the voice of unbelief asking, ‘Do you still believe that God is good?’ But the Lord gave strength to silence this voice immediately. Yes, I could gladly say to myself, ‘God is good’ even though He led through depths in which my faith in His goodness was ready to fail. All things work together for good to those who love God. With these thoughts in my heart, I hurried to the place of disaster. The wounds of my son had already been dressed. I thanked God that I was permitted to see him alive, and had confidence that the Lord would not take him away as yet. My son was spared to me, and after several months, was able to resume his work.
“I had hoped that this accident would cause him to reflect. I called his attention to the fact that it was the Lord’s goodness which saved him from the brink of death. But even this grave circumstance wrought no change in him. He still pursued his former course. I otherwise had no reason for complaint. It was just the thought of providing a better living for me that eventually ripened into the resolution of becoming a carpenter on a sailing vessel, which was about to start on a trip to several foreign countries. This resolution brought me new fear, and I did everything to discourage the thought in my son. I assured him that I was wholly satisfied with that which the Lord had given me, and pointed out to him the great dangers which accompany such a voyage, as well as the sorrow which the long separation from him would cause me. But all in vain. Neither warning nor tears were able to keep him back. The idea of providing a more comfortable living for me by this means, caused him to overlook all else. So I could do nothing but commit him to the Lord, and thus let the matter take its course. God could also, in this way, manifest His goodness to me, even though I could see only darkness and sadness. When the hour of his departure came, I let my dear boy go in peace. I commended him to that God in whose hand are all our paths, and whose eyes run throughout the whole earth.
“My son promised me to avail himself of every opportunity of sending me word. But none came. I received neither letter nor message. Months passed and finally years, but I obtained no report of my son; also of the vessel nothing more was heard. It appeared to have been tracklessly lost. What this suspense meant to me, you can imagine. It was a time during which Satan showered his fiery darts upon Inc. It was then not always easy to remain steadfast as to the goodness of God. At times I was utterly cast down, but grace kept me. However mysterious God’s ways and dealings might appear, I could still hold fast to the fact that God is good. Today I rejoice that I did not sadden the heart of my faithful God and Father by doubting His love. The issue was so glorious.
“After having heard nothing for many years, and I had practically given up every hope of again seeing my son in this life, there came, one day, a knock at the door. I opened, and there stood a man, who when he saw me, fell on my neck, and rejoicingly cried: ‘Mother, God is good!’
“‘Yes, God is good,’ I answered, as in a dream. Was it possible? Was it truly the one thought to be dead, whom I now held in my arms, and across whose lips there came again and again, ‘God is good’?
“Yes, it was he. Now listen to his story, and praise God with me for His matchless kindness: The vessel on which he sailed passed through a region of many islands. The inhabitants of these were heathen and noted sea robbers. They attacked the ship, killed a portion of the crew, and took the rest with them as slaves. After a time they put my son, together with a comrade, on one of the islands, and sold them to the tribe dwelling there.
“Then began a terrible time. They were compelled to work as slaves under much torment from their wild and barbarious masters. The sufferings of the soul were as great as those of the body. But even those circumstances did not bring my son to conversion and repentance. His only wish was to escape, even though it cost him his life. Concerning the things that pertain to the life after this, he gave no thought, nevertheless he was sometimes tormented by remorse because he paid no heed to my wishes for him to remain at home. Now and then there was a remembrance of my admonitions, but this was only for a moment. In the next instant these were overcome by thoughts of his wretchedness; and the question of how he could free himself, shut out every other thought. O, how foolish man is! That which is for time, and fills these passing years on earth, captivates his whole thought and mind. About eternity, he desires to know nothing.
“A long time the two captives had spent on the island; how long they did not know. Then the following took place: A great feast was to take place in honor of the principal idol of the inhabitants of this island, and as the chief sacrifice, a human being was to be offered. Naturally, the choice fell upon the two white prisoners, and it was suggested to cast lots to determine which of them should die. The lot fell upon my son. His fear was great, as you can well imagine. But even in this great trial, he did not turn to the One who alone could help him. However great the fear of the awful death which awaited him may have been, inwardly he remained unmoved. He was dragged before the offering priest, who undressed and examined him minutely, to see that there was no imperfection on him. Marvelously, the scars which dated back to his fall from the mast, were used as the means of his deliverance. As soon as the priest saw these, he rejected the offer as unfit. My son was saved; but his unfortunate comrade, on whom the eye of the priest found nothing adverse, was offered to the idol in his stead.
“The horrible spectacle made a deep impression on him. Even this did not produce the desired effect, but caused him nevertheless to cry from the depths of his heart to God for help. The life on the island was for him henceforth unbearable. God in grace heard his prayer and sent aid.
“One morning he saw a vessel. Through signals of distress he sought to direct the attention of those on board to himself, and to his infinite joy he noticed, after a time, that his endeavors were successful. A small boat was put out to get him. The natives wisely hid themselves, and so my son was brought on board the ship unmolested. God, about whom he cared to know nothing, had heard his cry. Not until now, was he truly aware of what he had undergone in the past several years as to mistreatment, privations and perils of death. He was again among his own people, and on the way toward home.
“On the ship he began to muse over the wonderful ways of God with him. There for the first time his eyes were opened to recognize the kindness of God which had accompanied him up to this hour. In reviewing his past life, he was compelled to say again and again, ‘Yes, God is good!’ Above all, the last events which took place on the island, helped to remove the bands from his eyes.
“‘What would have become of me?’ he often asked himself, ‘if I, as it was appointed to me, had really been burned as a sacrifice? In order to have been spared this lot, I had to fall from the mast, over which I have often murmured, and my unfortunate comrade had to take my place.’
“These and similar reflections now occupied his mind unceasingly. They led him to ask what these many manifestations of the goodness of God had really produced in him. With shame, he owned that thus far nothing but ungratefulness had been found. This led him on to a knowledge of his evil, unfeeling heart; further, to a sense of his utterly lost condition before God. For the first time in his life he felt himself to be in the light of God’s presence.
“He now, although sailing toward his longed-for home on a vessel among people who spoke his language, grew more uneasy than on the island where his life was constantly in danger. The thought of meeting that God who had showered him with tokens of His goodness, and for whom he had had nothing but unthankfulness, made him very unhappy, and filled his heart with fear. He felt that he was no better than his comrade who had to die and he was spared in such a wonderful manner. Why was this? The answer came to him, ‘So that you might not be eternally lost.’ With this, there also came to his memory the stories he had heard in his youth. There came to his remembrance many an earnest word which he had then heard, and he finally came to the point, to which he should have come long ago, that is, he fell on his knees and cried to God for mercy.
“With this I have about come to the end of my story. That my son was not kept waiting for an answer to his prayer, I need not assure you. How could God despise a broken and contrite heart? He directed his eyes to the cross of Calvary, to Him who there shed His precious blood for sinners, and there found quick and thorough healing. In the place of fear and unrest, a deep peace filled his heart. He knew that his sins were forgiven. All things became new.
“How my son came home you have already heard. Whenever I think of that moment when the one so long missed, and held for lost and dead, fell into my arms, and we together cried out ‘God is good!’ it seems as though my heart cannot contain the joy.”
The dear old lady had finished. With awed attention I had listened to her story. How real was her faith. This was indeed a soul that trusted in her God, and she had experienced that He will not allow those to be put to shame who put their trust in Him. Yes, God is good. The psalmist says,