HAVE FAITH IN GOD by Hannah M. Rogers

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 12, 1876

HAVE FAITH IN GOD.

By Hannah M. Rogers

Dear Readers of the Review: It is with a heart filled with love and gratitude to the Giver of every good and perfect gift, that I take my pen to recount some of the dealings of God with me, hoping thereby to encourage some poor, weary, suffering one to cast his cares more fully upon the Lord. I know how to sympathize with such, having myself been bound upon a bed of languishing for over two years, and at last delivered by the power of God. I feel it my duty, as well as happy privilege, to recount the goodness and great mercy of God to me.

On the 17th of Feb., 1874, the withering hand of disease fastened upon me; and, after vainly struggling against it for about four weeks, I was compelled to give up, and take my bed, to which I was constantly confined until the 17th of July this past summer. My disease was of the spinal cord. My case had been pronounced hopeless by several different physicians, beyond the reach of human skill. Remedy after remedy had been tried, but all to no avail. Month after month rolled away, and each found me still lying upon the bed, tortured in every part of my frail system by cruel pain. Hope began to sink within me. My confidence in human means was wholly destroyed, and I became settled in the conviction which had long been forming, that nothing short of the power of God would ever raise me to health. I resolved to cast myself upon his mercy, and trust alone in him to restore me to health, if in accordance with his divine will; and on the evening of that same day (the 17th of July last), it pleased God to send one of his servants here filled with faith and confidence in God, and endowed with his Holy Spirit.

He was moved to present my case before the throne of grace, and supplicate the God of Heaven in my behalf; and while engaged in earnest prayer he was moved by the Spirit to lay hands on my head, and entreat the Lord for Jesus’ sake to heal me at that time. Nor was it in vain; for scarcely had we presented our humble petitions, ere the power of God descended upon me, penetrating every nerve of my system, and banishing every pain. Praise the Lord forever. I lay helpless and weak for a few minutes, but as it were in the very presence of my Saviour, when I was moved to arise and try my strength, that faith might be made perfect by works; and no sooner had I made the attempt than I felt strengthened so that I arose from my bed and walked for the first time for over two years. From that time until the present, I have been rapidly recovering, and am now quite well. To God be all the praise.

Thus has the word of God been fulfilled which says, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” Jas. 5:15. Yes, thank the Lord, I can feel that though my sins were many they have all been forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Praise his ever-blessed name. And if faithful I hope in a little from this to be gathered with all the ransomed ones, to enjoy the rest which remaineth to the people of God. I can truly say with the psalmist, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn the statutes of the Lord;” for while lying upon a bed of affliction, I have been brought to see the importance of keeping all of God’s commandments, including the holy Sabbath, which is the seventh day, that I may have right to the tree of life and enter in through the gates into the city.

O let us be faithful, dear brethren and sisters, and strive to know and do the whole will of God, that we may be accounted worthy to escape all the things that are coming upon the earth, and to stand before the Son of man. And I would say to the dear suffering ones, Have faith in God. Place not your confidence in man, but flee to the God of Israel for aid, who is ever ready and willing to attend unto the cry of the helpless. O claim his promises as your own, and cast yourselves upon his mercy; and you will surely find him a very present help in trouble. His promises are all yea and amen, and his word standeth sure forever. In him we may find a refuge in every storm, a friend in every time of need. Then, O ye sick and needy ones, no longer doubt his word; no longer lean upon a broken reed; but hasten to apply to the mighty Physician whose skill was never baffled, and whose ear was never closed to the cry of the distressed. For, “all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matt. 21:22.

HANNAH M. ROGERS.

Eaton, P. O., Sept. 15, 1876.