40 - A Glory Heart

“WE ARE TO KEEP our eyes off everything and everybody but just Jesus,” remarked Mrs. R. in her Bible class, April 19, 1916. In just a little over a week from then she was to be called upon to practice this exhortation herself in what was one of the severest, most painful experiences of her life. For some time Mr. Robinson had been in failing health. Of course, there was no thought on his part or on the part of his wife to do anything but to trust the Lord for their bodies. That was a settled matter. In this stand all of their associates in the ministry were also of one mind. In addition to their believing in the doctrine of divine healing, had they them­selves not experienced great miracles of healing? Mr. Robin­son, it is true, had never had any great sickness himself and so had never experienced the healing power of God as had his wife. Nor had he known, therefore, what it was to pray and to fight through for physical victories as had his wife or Elder and Mrs. Brooks. Now that he was attacked by the enemy, although he firmly believed in the power of God to heal, his attitude was virtually one of apathy, accompanied doubtless by discour­agement and depression. When it was suggested that he ask for prayer for his condition, he dismissed the matter by saying he believed a person should pray for himself. At the same time he seemed to do little about it himself. Increas­ingly his condition, diagnosed as a fibroid tumor with ascites, grew worse. Yet, in his extremity there was no thought of turning to the arm of flesh. Courageously and confidently, Mrs. R. undertook to fight for her husband’s life in spite of his attitude and condition. Calling their associates in the ministry together, with one accord she and they engaged in a tremendous prayer of many hours, beseeching God to raise him up for His glory. One minister who lived in the city described it thus: “It was a mighty cry. One could feel it outside the Home.” On April 28, just two weeks after his forty-second birthday, Mr. Robinson went to be with the Lord. For him, Mrs. Robin­son knew it was what he wished and was “far better.” For her and the work, it was a tragic defeat, a crushing blow. How would she take this attack of the enemy? She had preached so much that God wanted His people to “rejoice in the Lord always” and “in everything give thanks,” that He wanted people to have a “glory heart.” How about her? How about now? One of the ministers went to her after her husband’s death to “propose some assurance of faith and sympathy and hope.” Certainly she appreciated his kindness but replied, “I guess we have to have a glory heart now, don’t we?” And she did. Absolutely! Perfectly! But what of the much and mighty intercession for Mr. Robinson? Was that a total loss? “No,” the Lord assured her. He would, in His great econ­omy, turn that prayer into blessing for the entire work. “Let’s make victory out of defeat,” was one of the basic tenets of Mrs. Robinson’s whole life. By keeping her eyes off “everything and everybody but just Jesus” she was enabled both to see His glory and to be kept in it continuously. Having been victorious in her own sorrow, it is no wonder that she could counsel with authority and understanding those in like circumstances: “And now let me offer a thought, which God gives me for you: Rejoice in the valley — a very sweet val­ley, instead of a dark one, when we go with Him, and our eyes are opened for the sunshine of His presence. “Each time I write you, God leads me to sound this note of praise and hides all other sides of it, even the separation it really is for loving hearts. Is not Jesus tender, also ever wisest, beloved? “His word seems to be, ‘Rejoice.’”