Her Scripture Memory Testimonial – Lay Aside Every Weight

Some books, former procrastinators, are truly life affecting.  I urge you to read Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose.  She was a newlywed missionary in the jungles of New Guinea who spent four years in a Japanese prison camp during World War II. Her story is an account of God’s faithfulness to a young woman who belonged to Him and utterly relied on Him. My greatest takeaway is the power of God’s Word memorized by Darlene Deibler.

When her husband was hauled off by soldiers, his words were “Remember one thing, dear: God said that He will never leave us nor forsake us.”

Darlene clung to that promise and to Psalms 27, 91, and other scripture.  She faced beatings, severe malnutrition, broken health, death, rats, lies, worms, filth, exhausting work, difficult relationships, working for enemy authorities, bombs, fire. Falsely accused of spying, she was imprisoned on death row. God never left her nor forsook her.

“In the cell I was grateful now for …Vacation Bible School verses, …chapters…Psalms.. books of scripture I had memorized…The Lord fed me with the Living Bread that had been stored against the day when fresh supply was cut off by the loss of my Bible.  He brought daily comfort and encouragement – yes, and joy – to my heart through the knowledge of the Word.“

“Paul, the apostle, wrote that it was through the comfort of the Scriptures that he had hope and steadfastness of heart to believe God.  I had never needed the Scriptures more than in these months on death row, but since so much of His Word was there in my heart, it was not the punishment the [captors] had anticipated when they took my Bible.“

Darlene Deibler was equipped. We cannot imagine how we will need the Word of God to stabilize or strengthen us. But God knows and He has supplied us with His Word to hide in our hearts. There is no better way for us to sense His loving presence and take courage than to have His very own Words to hold onto.

What Living Bread are you storing up?