IN an old brown cottage in a rural neighborhood there once lived a solitary woman. Alone in the world, so far as family or relatives were concerned, half blind, lame, deformed, and earning a scanty subsistence by means of her little garden, knitting, and spinning, she was nevertheless so remarkable for cheerful contentment as to be known everywhere from village to village by the name of “Happy Nancy.”
She was a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Her sins, by his precious blood, were washed away: “being justified by faith, she had peace with God.” But this was not all. Great and all-important as it is to have sin forgiven — to have peace with God, Happy Nancy had not stayed there, but had gone on to know and enjoy the peace of God which passeth all understanding, and which so kept her heart and mind by Christ Jesus that she always displayed the same equal, happy frame, whatever her outward condition or circumstances.
“Well, Nancy,” would the chance visitor say as he stopped at her door, “so you are singing again?”
“Oh yes! I’m forever at it.”
“I wish you’d tell me your secret, Nancy. You are all alone; you work hard; you have nothing very pleasant in your surroundings; —what is the reason you’re so happy?”
“Perhaps,” replied Nancy, “it is because I haven’t got anybody but the Lord. You see rich folks like you depend upon their families and their houses; and they are mighty afraid of troubles ahead, too. I aint got nothing to trouble myself about, because I leave it all to the Lord.”
“Well, but, Nancy, suppose a frost should come after your fruit trees are all in blossom, and your little plants out; suppose —”
“But I don’t suppose,” replied Nancy; “I never can suppose. I don’t want to suppose but that the Lord will do everything right. That’s what makes you people unhappy; you’re all the time supposing. Now, why can’t you wait till the suppose comes, as I do, and then make the best of it?”
Perhaps because some of those she thus addressed were not in a position to do so; possibly because others may not have been in a condition to do as she did. As to the first, only those who are in the place of nearness to God — only those who are “made nigh,” are in a position to confide in him. Nominal Christianity does not confer this privilege on any. Morality, religiousness, integrity, uprightness, amiability — all these are utterly vain to make nigh to God. It is by the blood of Christ, and through faith in him alone, that the sinner is set in that blessed place in which he may confide in God, as a child in a loving, gracious Father, “who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,” and who assuredly will “with him also freely give us all things.” These only have by grace a claim on his fatherly care these alone can trust him. But even of those who are in this blessed place of nearness to God, there are not a few who find it impossible to imitate Happy Nancy’s example. They plead circumstances, and no doubt the circumstances of some are more trying than those of others. Natural character, too, has not a little to do with cheerfulness of disposition, and comparative freedom from care, or their opposites. Disease has even more to do with it, and not unfrequently produces a degree of despondency which, as in the case of the poet Cowper, is often distressing to witness. Nevertheless, these are but secondary causes after all; and though varying in degree, it is possible to rise above them.
“BUT ONE THING IS NEEDFUL.”
If “careful and troubled about many things,” how can the believer enjoy peace in a wilderness which, however pleasant it may seem to sense, is like a labyrinth of rose trees — full of thorns.
Happy Nancy’s secret lay in unhindered communion, and is expressed in the words, “I haven’t anybody but the Lord.” He filled her eye and her heart too. With him she walked continually. Ignorant of much that more intelligent believers are acquainted with, and probably quite incapable of communicating even the little that she did know, she was happy in this, that whatever else she lacked, she “had the Lord,” both with her and for her (Rom. 8:17, 3117And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)
31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)), her one gracious COMPANION) her sole and all-sufficient FRIEND. To him she looked under every condition, expecting his gracious interference, but submissive to his will. On his almighty arm she leaned with a whole-hearted confidence, persuaded of his love, “not wanting to suppose but that the Lord would do everything right.” Thus careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,” she let her requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, kept her heart and mind by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6, 76Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6‑7)). Occupied with himself, those things that are “venerable, just, pure, lovely, and of good report” would fill her thoughts (vs. 8), and by consequence shine out in her actions (vs. 9). So the “God of peace” was with her, and she was conscious of it. “I haven’t anybody but the Lord!” Him she had, and because, in her estimation, he was enough — her all-in-all — she was “Happy Nancy.” Is not this possible to every child of God?