God is Not Dead!
IllustrationStory★★★The story is told that Frederick Douglass, the great slave orator, once said in mournful speech, when things looked dark for his race— “The white man is against us, the Governments are against us, the spirit of the times is against us. I see no hope for the coloured race. I am full of sadness.” Just then a poor old coloured woman rose in the audience and said— “Frederick, is God dead?”
Now, many a young believer is discouraged and disheartened when he realises the warfare he has still to wage against sin. He begins to think that God has forsaken him, that Christianity is not all that it professes to be. But he should rather regard it as an encouraging sign.
No sooner has a soul escaped from his snare than the great Adversary takes steps to ensnare it again. He puts forth all his powers to recapture his lost prey. The fiercest attacks are made on the strongest forts, and the fiercer the battle the young believer is called on to wage, the surer evidence it is of the work of the Holy Spirit in his heart. God will not desert him in his time of need.
Also attributed to: Unknown
D. L. Moody, Anecdotes and Illustrations (©1898, public domain)
The point
When Frederick Douglass despairs over his people's plight, an old woman's simple question, Is God dead?, reminds believers that fierce spiritual battles prove rather than disprove God's work.