It is easy to be envious of or even upset at successful business people. We often think of them as “rich fat cats” or those who take advantage of us regular folk. It’s true that some rich people do take advantage of others, but not all of them do. 

I remember reading about J.C. Penney, who gave millions of dollars to support Christian work. Even though he descended from a line of Baptist preachers—and many concluded he would go into ministry—he chose a different path. He decided to go into retail business and run it by Christian principles. He had impressive, rapid success for a few years but, like many at that time, was deeply affected by the Great Economic Depression of the 1930s. All his impressive business deals collapsed. He became overwhelmed with anxiety and insomnia, which was followed by a painful case of shingles, for which he was hospitalized. The medications made things worse; his mental state deteriorated, he was broken neurologically and physically, filled with despair, and devoid of hope with nothing to live for. He was sure he hadn’t a friend left in the world, as even his family turned against him.

One morning while still in the hospital, he heard singing filtering down the halls of the hospital chapel: Be not dismayed what-e’er betide. God will take care of you. He shakily walked into the chapel, slumped into a chair and listened to the song, a Bible reading and some prayer. “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 later wrote.* All worry had left him as he realized more fully than he had ever imagined just how much God cared for him.

Even though the country’s economic depression continued for several years, and Penney continued to face great financial problems, he said that never again was he plagued with worry or anxiety.

In our world right now, many are struggling with financial difficulties and job loss, as many countries are facing economic crises. The unsteadiness of the economy for many families has created significant problems. Because of these kinds of difficulties, many of us are dealing with anxiety, troubled sleep and other symptoms, surrounding us like emotional dark clouds. 

Happily, no matter what the troubles are that hit us (financial, health, family, vocational), we don’t have to live under a dark cloud, for we can reaffirm that we have a glorious heavenly Father who loves us—even more than we can imagine—and who has promised to work all things together for our good. So, as C.D. and W.S. Martin tell us in their 1933 well-loved hymn:

  Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you:
  Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
  Thru days of toil, when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;
  When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.
  All you may need He will provide, God will take care of you;
  No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you.
  Lean, weary one, upon His breast; God will take care of you.
  Thru every day, o’er all the way, He will take care of you.

Roger K. Gulick
Pastoral Care, Entrust

 *Then Sings My Soul, Robert J. Morgan (Thomas Nelson, 2003), p.259.