A Must Read Book!
Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose tells an incredible story of her life beginning as a newlywed missionary in Macassar and into her time in a Japanese prison camp during World War II. The suffering she and so many others endured is appalling. I could not even imagine what those brutal years were like.
The beatings. The hard labor. The lack of warm showers (or any shower at all!), only two outfits, no shoes. Uncomfortable beds. The diseases that set in. The death of her husband. The unknown. The small rations of food. Fear of being beaten. Medical conditions going uncared for.
A prisoner of war.
The Japanese leaders were ruthless and uncaring….HOWEVER, they had some exceptions. Darlene was one of them. She was highly favored by the main guy, Mr. Yamaji. She even had opportunity to share Jesus with him. He was visibly moved by the good news of the gospel–that Jesus died for him and that Darlene loved even him, an enemy.
Darlene was eventually moved to another prison where she was isolated from everyone. Her living conditions were even more deplorable than the first prison camp. They tried to convict her of espionage, and she even stood to be executed for it, but God intervened. He used, of all people, Mr. Yamaji, to show Himself strong in her life. How God cared for her is overwhelming.
He intervened all throughout the way in awe-inspiring ways. I cried several times with amazement at how good and personal our God is.
The scripture was her life. She quotes so many verses that came to her in these dark days. She would remember them at the exact right time. I was so challenged to keep memorizing and meditating on Scripture. It has power!!! And reading Darlene’s story makes me ashamed that I, in these pristine of conditions, can sometimes find it hard to draw from God’s Word for all I need. However, I have caught myself not giving voice to complaints, as I recall in my mind what life was like for her as a prisoner of war.
Suddenly, not having anything to wear is not only a lie, but ridiculous. Wishing and wanting for this or that is plain nuts.
Proper Perspective can come to you after reading a book like this. We’ve read several books as a family that make us realize we don’t know much at all about suffering (And The Word Came with Power and Gladys Alyward…both fabulous reads!). This one has marked me. I won’t soon forget the suffering of Darlene Deibler and her shining example as a follower of Christ.
One night after being interrogated at prison, she recalled a poem by Annie Johnson she had just two weeks before memorized:
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater.
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.
To added affliction, He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trial, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
And our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
The Father’s full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure.
His power has no boundary known unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
I Peter 1: 3-7, 13
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…Therefore prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Darlene most definitely lived for the next life. What a beautiful example she is to me. Please read this book. It’s like a layer has been shed from my eyes to more clearly see the unseen (2 Corinthians 4….”but the things which are unseen are eternal.”)
And this song goes right along with Darlene’s life. She knew that everything was hers in Christ.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zokDEfvD5gY