The Remedy of Self-Sacrificing Service

The Ministry of Susannah Spurgeon.
I have long been a fan of many women of the faith. Women who were wives to great men of God. You have heard it said that behind every great man is a great woman? Well, I don't think a man has to have a woman to be great, but God did give Adam a "helper" and I definitely find joy in helping other Godly men, in serving the Lord. (Genesis 2:18 “And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:20-23
“And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”)

Susannah Spurgeon, among others, such as Martin Luther's wife, Susannah Wesley have fascinated me with their depth of courage and devotion to the Lord, through their marriages to mighty men of faith. God truly did use them to "help" their husbands, to bring honor to their ministries and give them the stability of a spouse. It is a great example to us, as women today, to see such self-sacrifice. It is told to young girls often, you should go out and do your own thing and don't worry about a man. Well, I would beg to differ a bit on that. I do believe that God has created woman for the man. Not that she cannot have her own job, hobby, opinions, etc. But that she can find joy and fulfillment in being a helper to her husband.
Having been married for 8 years, I can speak from experience. After getting past the whole "submission" thing, I was truly able to enjoy the role God had created for me. I set about learning how best to be a blessing to my husband and family. It was some of the most joyous times of my life. Even after my divorce, I have sought the Lord in how I could minister to my pastor and others that God would put in my path.

Having said all that and gotten a little off track, I wanted to share portions of an excerpt from Susan Verstraete's writings on Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles Spurgeon.

" It was an odd courtship. Charles had little free time to devote to Susannah. One of their regular dates consisted of Susannah quietly minding her own business while Charles edited his weekly sermon for publication. Susannah once accompanied Charles to a speaking engagement in a crowded venue. As they walked in, Charles was preoccupied with the message he was about to deliver. He turned into a side door, completely forgetting about Susannah, who found herself abandoned in the crushing crowd to find her own way to a seat. Miffed, she left the building and took a cab home to her parents' house.
Mrs. Thompson, Susannah's mother, was not as sympathetic to the perceived slight as her daughter expected her to be. Wisely, she urged Susannah never to try to make herself an idol in her fiancee's heart. Charles was God's servant first and foremost, and she warned Susannah that she must never hinder his ministry. Susannah wrote, "I never forgot the teaching of that day; I had learned my hard lesson by heart, for I do not recollect ever again seeking to assert my right to his time and attention when any service for God demanded them."
Later in their marriage Susannah became chronically ill. For long seasons, she was unable to accompany her husband to church and was often confined to bed. Discouraged and confused, Susannah cried out to God. Later, she would write "... the moment we come into any trial or difficulty, our first thought should be, not how soon can we escape from it, or how we may lessen the pain we shall suffer from it, but how can we best glorify God in it..."


Wow, what wisdom! I had to stop and read that last quote several times for the full effect to sink in. I have had my fair share of grief in my life, probably more than most, but to have the attitude of how best to glorify God in it, wasn't one of the top priorities, I can assure you.
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I Corinthians 6:20. What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
"Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." I Peter 4:16
Just think, enduring the trial, no not enduring, but being truly thankful for the trial - James 1:3 “Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”..... hmmmmm, something to think about.