WORR Y 807

Turn that Over to Me The career of missionary E. Stanley Jones, who died in 1973, was nearly cut short by chronic worry. When he had first arrived in India, Jones wore himself out, working and worrying.

“I was suffering so severely from brain fatigue and nervous exhaustion,” he later wrote, “that I collapsed, not once but several times.” Aboard the ship returning to America, he collapsed again and the doctor put him to bed. After a year’s rest, he attempted to return to India, but became a bundle of nerves on the return trip and arrived in Bombay a broken man.

His colleagues warned him that any attempt to continue ministering in such a state of anxious care would be fatal. While praying one night, groping in emotional darkness, Jones seemed to hear a Voice ask him, “Are you yourself ready for this work to which I have called you?” “No, Lord,” replied Jones. “I am done for.

I have reached the end of my resources.’’ “If you will turn that over to Me and not worry about it,” the Voice seemed to say, “I will take care of it.” Jones answered, “Lord, I close the bargain right here.”

A great sense of peace closed in over Stanley Jones, a rush of abundant life that seemed to sweep him off his feet. His energy returned, his enthusiasm bubbled over, and he plunged back into his work with a vitality he had never before known.

Jones went on to spend a lifetime of ministry in India, writing numerous books, and ministering to multitudes around the world. He later wrote, “This one thing I know: my life was completely transformed and uplifted that night . . . when at the depth of my weakness and depression, a voice said to me: ‘If you will turn that over to Me and not worry about it, I will take care of it,’ and I replied, ‘Lord, I close the bargain right here.’ “ Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved . ...

Casting all your care upon Him,Jor He cares for you. (Psalm 55:22 & 1 Peter 5:7, NKJV} The Worries of Life We scarcely know when life will worry us half to death. Consider Pastor A. J. Jones in South Africa.

Wanting to sell a television set, he ran a classified ad in a Pretoria paper. As first printed, the ad said: The Rev. A. J.

Jones has a color TV set for sale. Telephone 555-1313 after 7 P.M. and ask for Mrs.

Donnelley who lives with him, cheap. The next day, the paper printed this correction: We regret any embarrassment caused to Rev. Jones by a typographical error in yesterday’s editions. It should have read, “The Rev.

A.]Jones has color TV set for sale, cheap. Telephone 555-1313 and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who lives with him after 7 P.M.

The next day, the paper said: The Rev. A. J. Jones informs us he has received several annoying_ telephone calls because of an incorrect advertisement in yesterday’s paper.

It should have read, ‘’The Rev. A. J. Jones has color TV set for sale.

Cheap. Telephone 5 5 5- 1313 and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who loves with him.” One day later: Please take notice that I, the Rev.

Jones, have no TV set for sale. I have smashed it. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Donnelley.

She was until yesterday my housekeeper. - w ...