I thought, perhaps, it might encourage someone today to hear again this story from the life of J. C. Penney who descended from a long line of Baptist preachers, and was well on his way to establishing a successful career when the 1929 Great Depression threw him into crisis. His business deals turned sour, and Mr. Penney became overwhelmed with anxiety and insomnia. He developed a painful case of shingles and was hospitalized, but tranquilizers and drugs only made things worse. His mental state deteriorated until, as he later said, "I was broken nervously and physically, filled with despair, unable to see even a ray of hope. I had nothing to live for. I felt I hadn't a friend left in the world, that even my family turned against me."
But one morning he heard singing coming from the little hospital chapel. The words of the song said, "Be not dismayed, whate'er betide / God will take care of you."
Entering the chapel, he listened to the song, to the Scripture reading, and to the prayer. "Suddenly -- something happened. I can't explain it. I can only call it a miracle. I felt as if I had been instantly lifted out of the darkness of a dungeon into warm, brilliant sunlight." All worry left him as he realized more fully than he had ever imagined just how much the Lord Jesus cared for him. From that day, J. C. Penny was never plagued with worry, and he later recalled those moments in the chapel as, "the most dramatic and glorious twenty minutes of my life." He later became one of America's greatest retail merchants.
About 25 years earlier, on a Sunday in 1904, Civilla Martin was in Lestershire, New York, where her husband, Walter, was compiling a collection of hymns for the Practical Bible Training School. They were planning to travel to another town that day, for Bro. Martin had a preaching assignment. Civilla woke up sick, and Bro. Martin was about to cancel his plans, when their young child piped up and said: "Oh, Daddy, you don't have to stay home because of Mother---God will take care of us."
Bro. Martin proceeded to the train station and fulfilled his appointment. When he returned, Civilla handed him the words of "God Will Take Care of You", which she had written in his absence. Going to his little organ, Bro Morgan composed the music, not knowing that 25 years later the Lord would use it to lift J. C. Penney out of his dungeon of despair.
I thought how wonderful it is that our loving Lord always knows just what we need, and when we need it, and He delights to work it all together for our good and His glory! Praise His Name!
I trust this beautiful song will minister to your heart today!
"Be not dismayed what e'er betide, God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
Through days of toil, when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.
All you may need He will provide, God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.
God will take care of you. Through every day, o'er all the way.
He will take care of you, God will take care of you."
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