One or two days later, Susan was talking to Rose at bedtime. She had been praying with her, for Rose had been unhappy about her sins. The little girl got up from her knees with a bright face, and Susan asked,
"Are you happy, Rose?" "Yes, quite happy now." "How is that?"
"Jesus is my Saviour, Susan."
"And how about your sins?"
"I believe He bore my punishment, and has washed away my sins. I am quite happy now."
"Can you trust Him entirely, dear?"
"Yes, I can; I'm so glad!" And she went to her little bed full of joy.
When Susan came to her, three hours after, Rose wakened, and said,
"Susan, I am so happy; I had such a nice prayer to the Lord Jesus." And then she fell asleep again.
Next morning it was the same. She had, little child as she was, trusted in the Saviour's love, taken Him at His word, and found peace and rest and a joy that passeth understanding.
Now a new battle began.
One battle was over. Eighteen hundred years ago Jesus fought the fight for us, and rescued those who believe from Satan's power forever. But when we believe, and God's Spirit comes to dwell in us, a new fight begins. This new nature we get as believers in Jesus cannot delight in the things our old nature — the one we were born with, and which will never leave us till we are with the Lord —delights in, and so there is a conflict. God tells us to keep the old nature under, and not to do the things it loves. It is selfish, angry, untruthful, and spiteful. But we are to let the new nature and the Holy Spirit work, and these will bring forth love, gentleness, peace, joy, and loving-kindness.
Satan knows he cannot get those who belong to Jesus to be his slaves in misery forever, and so he tries to tempt them away from the presence of the Lord, and get them to stray for a time from the fold, and grieve the loving heart of the good Shepherd. His thoughts are evil, and he delights in getting the Lord's children into trouble, but he never helps them out. Jesus says none can pluck them out from His hand. Satan may worry the sheep, if they forget to keep close to the good Shepherd, but he cannot destroy them.
Now, little Rose had her faults as other children do, and as soon as the Holy Spirit dwelt within her, the began to learn that, if she wanted to please the Lord who died for her, she must try to keep naughtiness down, and let the fruit of the Spirit be seen. And Satan always tries to discourage those who begin to do right. He would like them to say, when they do wrong, "It is no use for me to try and do right. I'll give it up. I am afraid I don't belong to Jesus." Now those are the very sins for which Christ died, and though we should be very sorry to grieve Him who loves us so, we should confess them and remember He put them away on the cross, and ask His help humbly for the future.
Rose was very happy after this. She kept close to Susan, as if those two understood one another. But where she grew impatient was in being under her aunt's control or much in her company.