Life had been exceptionally challenging. I was home recovering from very painful surgery. My mother was in the hospital a thousand miles away. Our recently married daughter and son-n-law learned they might lose their jobs. Then I discovered my own work hours had been cut by half.

The problems just seemed to escalate. One evening I got a hold of my mother who, in a weak voice, said she would have to undergo a more invasive surgical procedure. At dinner I burst into tears. I could have been there for her if I'd known my hours were being cut.

The next day I read about Jesus' agony at the Mount of Olives. He prayed so intensely that it appeared He was sweating blood from His brow. (see Luke 22:41-45) Thinking of my own anguish, I felt humbled remembering the grief and pain He went through for me.

My husband later asked, "Do you remember about praying to God for a break?" He reminded me that our Lord answers our prayers, but not always in the way we want. Deep down I knew He was answering me.

One morning a song kept playing in my mind. "I have decided to follow Jesus, No turning back, No turning back." In all the stress and discouragement, I was surprised to hear those words. I hadn't sung this in years.

With the gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit, I started singing, at first tentatively while doing the breakfast dishes, then later more assertively while driving to work. Later, a co-worker had her song book at our Bible study and we sang the song.

That same day I received most of my hours back and these were better than before. I was joyful and thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ. And to think I had thoughts of quitting! After work, I picked up my husband from his job and told him all about it. He asked if I knew the story behind the song.

The lyrics are based on the words of a man who lived in Assam, India, in the 19th century. He, his wife, and children converted to Christianity, angering many there. When called to renounce his faith by the village chief, he declared, "I have decided to follow Jesus, and there is no turning back."

After seeing his children murdered, he said, "The world can be behind me, but the cross is still before me." His wife was then killed. Just before his own death, he said, "Though no one is here to go with me, still I will follow Jesus."

This display of faith was reported to have led to the conversion of that same chief and many others in the village. His words, put to traditional Indian music, became part of an enormous evangelistic effort in Northern India. In time this new song would make its way to churches across the world.

How like God to place in my heart the words of this faithful man facing death to remind me of His call to trust and follow Him and that regardless of the situation I have not been abandoned.

Like the man in Assam, we have to trust the Lord in the midst of troubles, difficulties, and hardships. Often it is only when we let go of our lives that God takes care of the situation, working it for the benefit of everyone concerned...even those we may never know.