God’s Wonderful Dealings With Janet Storm (3)

Approximately at this time I learned to know Janet through the De Haas family. Blind Janet, as she usually was called even though she no longer was entirely blind, came to visit at Vianen where I was preaching. In this way we became acquainted. She related her life experiences to us. It was soon evident that her experiences were very similar to mine and my wife’s; thus bonds of friendship were immediately laid in the midst of a large gathering of God’s people from Vianen and other places. We felt the truth of what Groenewegen wrote: “Although they come from distant lands, their hearts will melt together.”

What made the union between us and Janet still stronger, however, was the conversion of our little daughter Margaret who was eleven years old when Janet first met her. Since Margaret’s remaining days were closely tied to Janet, we will give you a brief account of them.

Although Margy looked healthy, she had never really enjoyed good health. As her parents, we thought this was the reason that she so seldom played with her brothers and sisters and other children. Later on she told us that she had never desired to play because she felt herself to be such a sinner and would tremble because she was unconverted. She had hidden this from us. Only once had she mentioned it to a young friend from Utrecht.

At eight years of age she had developed bone cancer and glandular trouble. She suffered from this for ten years before she died at the age of eighteen. She did not have the use of her arms or legs because of approximately thirty open sores on them. In this condition she was very helpless. Yet Margy was an example of patience and longsuffering, even though the work of grace in her was still hidden at this time.

During the third year of Margy’s affliction Janet became acquainted with her. Feeling very sorry for her because of all of her suffering, she spoke to her about her spiritual needs. Then she would notice that Margy quietly and patiently listened to her and would stop crying about her pain. The Lord bound the soul of Margy upon the heart of blind Janet so that she wrestled for her at the throne of grace.

The first night of Janet’s return to Vreeswijk with the Waaien family, the Lord revealed unto her that little Margy was saved. She arose early in the morning and asked her hostess, who also had a saving knowledge of salvation by grace, to accompany her to Vianen. Janet was also convinced that Margy Vermeer was a saved person. They went together and upon arrival found a large gathering already there. They were listening to little Margy as she told of the great works which the Lord Himself had wrought in her soul. What this was for her parents, for Janet and all others who were present, cannot be expressed in words! The Word of the Lord had again been proven to be true, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength” (Ps. 8:2).

Margy experienced a very deep way but also a very clear way. Janet was united with close spiritual ties to her “little sister” Margy. Janet was a comfort to her in her soul’s distress and was privileged to rejoice with Margy in her wonderful deliverances. Many old Christians came to hear from Margy of the deep ways she had experienced, and they were very much amazed. Being yet very young she entered into eternal glory where there is no more suffering and strife.

Before her death she continually besought us to keep a place open for Janet in our home, and if possible to include her in the family circle. This was not to be the Lord’s way, however, for when she was not with the people of God, she would remain in her own room.

When one of her friends once told her of the dealings the Lord had held with him, blind Janet realized there was yet something lacking in her own faith; there was yet an emptiness which needed to be filled by the Lord. She needed to be reconciled with a triune God. Although her Surety and Mediator had taken away her guilt, she lacked the Holy Spirit’s assurance that she was again restored into the favor of God the Father, to be presented to the Son by the Father as His wages, and finally to be subjected to the Father in Him, being sealed by God the Holy Spirit. The Lord knew how to fulfill this in a glorious way. As a foundling she could call no one her father here upon earth and her mother had denied her her love. But now she could rejoice in the unending love of God the Father, of God the Son, and of God the Holy Spirit. She could glory in the knowledge that she was born of God. A higher and more pure love cannot be experienced by any creature.

When Janet was led into the essence of love divine, an entire gathering of God’s people would often also become enlivened in their souls. When Janet by grace was given to see that she was a partaker of that great good laid up for those who fear God, she was enabled to hear Christ say to the bride, “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before me” (Isa. 49:16). When she thought of what it would be like to be delivered from all sin and iniquity and to serve her King perfectly, then she could earnestly agree with the psalmist: “Thou art, O God, our boast, the glory of our power” (Psalter 422:6).

In the winter of 1907 Janet began to suffer an affliction which ultimately brought her to the grave. Her friends came to visit her and she would sing with them wholeheartedly:

All those who fear Thy Name
Shall my companions be;
Thy mercy fills the earth, O Lord;
Thy statutes teach Thou me.

—Psalter 328:4

No matter which denomination the true people of God belonged to, when they came to visit her, blind Janet felt that no church walls could separate them. She communed with Rev. Van De Vegt of Utrecht. Rev. Roelofsen and Rev. Overduin from Lisse also visited her. At the same time she counted among her friends Rev. Pauwe who often visited her.

The doctor gave no hope for her recovery. Blind Janet suffered through the winter, patiently waiting to be delivered from this body of sin and to be taken up unto Him who was not ashamed to call Himself her Father.

Of the gifts that she had received from open-handed and liberal friends, she saved enough to cover her funeral expenses, the same as we read of Huntington in his Bank of Faith. Thanks to these friends who helped her, Janet lacked nothing. The young maid Anna nursed her faithfully until her death. Janet placed her funeral arrangements into the hands of some faithful friends. After she had prepared everything here on earth, Janet Storm passed away on May 10, 1908, at the age of seventy-four. She weathered many storms, like a heavily laden ship which is guided by the love of a triune God. Finally she entered softly and calmly into the haven of eternal rest and happiness.

— Rev. W. Vermeer

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