You appreciate a quotation far more when you know the story behind the famous words. The words themselves also have more meaning when you know something about the person who said them. Here is a quote from someone who dealt effectively with fear: Mary Slessor said, “Why should I fear? I am on a royal mission. I am in the service of the King of kings.”
As you learn about Mary Slessor in this article, I think these words will become much more meaningful. The following information about her life comes from two different direct sources. If you want to learn more about her, either place would be a good starting point.
“Mary Slessor (1848-1915) was a hard-working Scottish mill girl and an unorthodox Sunday School teacher, who, inspired by David Livingstone,
“She was continuously fighting against this evil practice, often risking her life to stop the leaders from killing twins. She was bold in her ministry and fearless as she traveled from village to village. Mary rescued hundreds of twin babies thrown out into the forest, prevented many wars, stopped the practice of trying to determine guilt by making them drink poison, healed the sick, and told the people about the great God of love whose Son came to earth to die on the cross that sinful men might have eternal life.
“While in Africa, she received word that her mother and sister had died. Now Mary had no one close to her. She was overcome with loneliness. She wrote, ‘There is no one to write and tell my stories and troubles and nonsense to.’ But she also found a sense of freedom, writing, ‘Heaven is now nearer to me than Britain, and no one will be anxious about me if I go upcountry.’ So, in August of 1888, Mary went north to Okoyong the ‘up-country’ of West Africa. It was an area that had claimed the lives of missionaries in the past, but Mary was sure that pioneer work was best accomplished by women, who were less threatening to unreached tribes than men.
“During one of her sick leaves, she met Charles Morrison. He was a young missionary teacher serving in Duke Town. Although he was 18 years younger than her, they soon fell in love. Mary accepted his marriage proposal, but only after he assured her that he would work with her in Okoyong. Sadly, the marriage never happened. His health did not even allow him to stay in Duke Town, and, for Mary, missionary service came before personal relationships. She was destined to live alone with her [7] adopted children. Mary’s lifestyle consisted of a mud hut (infested with roaches, rats, and ants), irregular daily schedule (normal in African culture), and simple cotton clothing…
“In 1915, nearly 40 years after coming to Africa, she died at the age of 66 in her mud hut. Mary Slessor has become an inspiration to all who hear her story. She was not only a pioneer missionary, but also a pioneer for women in missions.” [http://www.historymakers.info/inspirational-christians/mary-slessor.html]
If Mary Slessor could live largely fear-free in spite of her many tribulations, it proves that peace is possible for us even when life is hard.
What is your greatest fear? Maybe it’s the fear of dying, or the fear being embarrassed, or fear getting a terrible sickness, or the fear of being a failure, or the fear that people may reject you, or the fear of being completely alone.
We can have the same courage that Mary Slessor had if we know the God who said, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride” (Psalm 46:1–3).
If we are trusting Christ’s work on the Cross to pay for our sins, we can also trust Him to take care of us on a daily basis. That is why Jesus told us to “But seek first [God’s] kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33–34).
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