In 1649 in rural France, Jeanne Guyon was born into a large, blended family. Her parents along with their many children and step-children argued frequently. Jeanne realized while very young that her mother preferred her older brother and because of this, the mother spent little time with her. Jeanne spent time alone in her room reading books of all kinds, including ones about history, literature and the entire Bible.
In her family life amidst constant arguments, God began a powerful work in the soul of Jeanne. Reading the Bible at such a young age changed Jeanne. Jeanne sensed the wonders of God within and found the power of salvation helped her through every day. She knew that God watches over everyone and not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the knowledge of the divine, compassionate Jesus. She realized that the Bible communicates the authoritative Word of God to each person individually.
Jeanne spent hours reading and praying over the words and history of the Bible. As Jeanne read the story of the Israelites, she realized that frequently the experience of the Jewish people’s forty years in the desert is like ours in life. We travel through unhappy and desolate times that feel like a dry desert. We cannot understand any meaning for this long, unhappy experience. Yet in our times of faith, we receive the great promise of God: Jesus says to us, “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
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