The Making of The Beautiful

Few have experienced agony like Annie Johnson Flint (1866–1932). Both of her parents died during her childhood. She grew up an orphan—fortunately, in an adoptive family that taught her the Scriptures, to read, write, and create music. But even then, Annie’s childhood dream of becoming a concert pianist was quickly dissolved when she developed rheumatoid arthritis in just her early-twenties. The arthritis was so severe that by Annie’s thirtieth-birthday, she could no longer walk. Her hands were disfigured, her body was twisted, and she was rarely able to sleep because of the extreme discomfort she experienced throughout.

Though her physical body deformed with each passing year, Christ was powerfully being formed in Annie through her agony and suffering. Despite the intense pain it brought to her contorted fingers, Annie became a prolific writer and poet. In lyric and prose, she regularly reflected upon God’s Word, his promises, and his abiding presence in her life. Though most of her days were spent stuck inside her little room in a sanitarium, she rarely complained about her condition. Those who knew her best often remarked about her bright, encouraging, and surprisingly humorous personality. And it was her heart for these friends that started her writing career as she created them cards and gift-books containing her poetry as means of encouragement. Annie came to be known as the “poet of helpfulness”.

The Lord multiplied Annie’s writing ministry, and soon her works were published and widely distributed. People marvelled that such beautiful lyrics could be composed by hands so compromised by constant pain. And, unlike stereotypical melancholic poets, the dominant theme of Annie’s writing was God’s goodness. Her writing is filled with reflections upon his goodness in creation, his being and character, his works, and his goodness particularly amidst trials and adversity. She knew well to ''hold fast the confession of hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful'' (Hebrews 10:23).

God hath not promised skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God hath not promised we shall not know

Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;

He hath not told us we shall not bear

many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,

Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;

Never a mountain rocky and steep,

Never a river turbid and deep

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love

(— "What God Hath Promised")

Annie was ruthlessly honest about life’s difficulties. She never ignored the thorns and the thickets. She refused to gloss over pain and suffering, and in her poetry, she never minimized the experience of living in a world marred by sin. But Annie also resisted the equally perilous tendency to become cynical and pessimistic. She, better than most, wrote with one eye on the present hardships and the other on God’s eternal goodness and purposes in them. By doing so, she lifted her readers’ hearts above their present misery to catch glimpses of God’s steadfast love and sovereign wisdom in their trials as well as offering assurance of the nearness of Jesus in every tribulation. 

The last thirty years of her life were spent bedridden and in pain, but Annie didn't let that stop her from continuing to do the Lord’s work that He had laid on her heart. Most of her life, she was an invalid, blind and in constant pain and suffering. Yet she wrote such beautiful poems and hymns about God’s love, grace and strength in her life that encourages and impacts the lives of those who read and heard them. 

"The Making of the Beautiful" is the only known biography of the Christian poetess Annie Johnson Flint. Her story is told by Roland V. Bingham (1872-1942) who was the founder of the Sudan Interior Mission (now the Serving in Mission (SIM)) and knew Annie personally. This account of her life, as well as the telling of her remarkable triumph over severe physical adversity, also records the only known 'autobiography' of hers, together with a selection of her poetry, a great deal of which has been out of print for decades. 

"He Giveth More Grace", perhaps the most popular of her poems, is written based on the verse from 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

“He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”

(— "He Giveth More Grace")

It amazes us that such powerful words were penned by such weak hands. Annie’s poetry is proof that God’s “power is made perfect in weakness.” How easy it would have been—understandable even—for her never to pick up a pen and write, but I am so glad she did.

Annie knew the Lord who was able to carry her through and sought always to leave everything with her Lord. After nearly 50 years of suffering submitted to Him, her last words at death bed were, “It’s all right.” She shows us what it takes not to murmur or complain or question Him, and encourages us likewise to trust the Lord to work through our weaknesses to the praise of His glory and grace. 

Indeed, it was a life made beautiful!