The Making of the Beautiful

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Cor 12:9

   I’m not a historian, but felt we could all be really moved forward in a positive direction by learning about Annie Johnson Flint’s story. Annie’s mom died when she was a toddler while giving birth to Annie’s younger sister. Her father was a very sick man, and gave up the girls to be boarded by the prototypical wicked step-mother. Shortly after, the dad died. Annie then went to live with the prototypical wicked foster mother. Eventually she was adopted by loving, Christian parents. Sadly, they also died leaving Annie and her sister alone again. The most difficult part of the story to bear is that while Annie was still a young woman, she became crippled and blind.
Ms. Flint or anyone living anything remotely close to a similar life, would have the full right to live their remaining years bitter and in despair. Yet, Annie Johnson Flint lived the 2 Cor 12:9 life.  She wrote the below poem, “HE GIVETH MORE GRACE” and a book was written about her called “The Making of the Beautiful.”

“He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”

   I take away several important points from this woman who made beautiful things despite the trials she endured. The world often brings us into trials, but God can do something with us through trials. Whatever you’re going through right now can always be used by God for good to take you to new levels and into His promised land.
   A story like Annie Johnson Flint’s also helps the vast majority see that we don’t have it too bad. Whatever most of us are going through pales in comparison to what some people go through and we can certainly go on to make life beautiful in accordance to the purposes God has for our lives.
   Finally, if we did go through all of her pain with the grace she did, they’d write a book about us called “The making of the beautiful.”  We appreciate pain less when it's on somebody else. I will work every day as a Christian person to stop or reverse whatever pain I can while I’m here.

With God, all things are possible,

Dr. Ben Lerner