Jim was in despair. Worry had taken over his life. He was hospitalized with shingles in pain and feeling that he could not make it through the night. In despair he sat down and wrote a farewell note to his wife and son.
But he did live through the night, and in the morning he heard singing. He made his way down the hall to the hospital chapel where a few people were gathered. They were singing the song, “Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you.”
Something happened within him. According to his own testimony, he would never be the same again. He said of the experience: “Suddenly–something happened. I can’t explain it. I can only call it a miracle. I felt as if I had been instantly lifted out of the darkness of a dungeon into warm, brilliant sunlight.”
He was never again defeated by discouragement. He lived to the age of ninety-five. When he died he had a chain of 1660 stores over all named after him. His name was J. C. Penney.
No matter how long and dark the night there will be singing in the morning if you don’t give in to discouragement. No matter what happens, don’t despair. God will take care of you.
