Came home physically drained, seemed totally exhausted from various events that’s been transpiring for the past weeks… the Lord gave solace once more in and through His word and empathy in the life of Darlene and Russell Diebler as I continued reading the book “Evidence Not Seen.”--
On New Year’s Day (1938 or 39) Russell awakened feeling completely depleted physically and concerned… needing encouragement for the walk ahead into this unknown wilderness (his desired mission field in PNG), he opened his Bible and came to a portion that seemed illumined on the page:
“Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9
I gladly allowed the message of the verse to sink in my heart … the same God, that gave that promise to Joshua and has refreshed Russell, lives today and promises His same comforting presence to me!!! All of a sudden my trials paled in comparison and my own suffering was dwarfed by the tremendous amount of suffering that this couple and the prisoners of war endured in the hands of the Japanese during WWII.
INA—be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed
The same God that was with the many prophets of the Bible,
The many pioneers of the faith—
Is with thee… is with me… wherever I go!!
He will never leave me nor forsake me
