Try God and See

By Jo Ann Young

Jo Ann Young was born in Sutherlin, Virginia, on a tobacco farm with her three brothers and three sisters. She attended White Stone Holiness Church where her mother became the pastor. In 1962, Jo Ann moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where she later became a member of the Faithful Church of Christ, located at 235 Woodrow Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124. There she remained. Because of the preaching and teaching, Jo Ann grew strong in faith and learned to trust God. In 1966, she married her husband, Allen. They had been married for nineteen years and had six children, ages eight to sixteen years old, when Allen was sent to prison. She was faced with many decisions. First, should she stay in the church, second, should she stay in marriage and third, should she try to raise six children alone? One of her daughters had earlier been diagnosed with lupus, a chronic disease. She had many complications. During one visit with her daughter, Jo Ann didn't like what she saw. She became worried. When she arrived home, she went into her bedroom and knelt down and said, "Lord, my daughter is dying. I know she is." She then heard in her spirit to go to the hospital. She said, "Lord, I am afraid." Then she heard, "Go and I will go with you and I will tell you what to do." Jo Ann obeyed and did as she was instructed. It was not easy for Jo Ann but she stayed in the church, she stayed true to the marriage, she went to work, and raised their children. There were times that she would leave work, go visit her daughter, then go "aboard" what she called the prison bus to visit Allen. During my husband's hospitalization, I was only allowed to visit for ten minutes, not knowing that would be my last time to talk to him. I was not told the seriousness of his illness, so I felt comfortable in sharing with him the diagnosis that I just received from my doctor; who informed me that I had cancer. I told Allen that I had concerns but I would be alright. Allen passed away four days later in December 2012.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781641919036

Book preview

Introduction

In 1985, my husband Allen entered the prison system with a life sentence (although he continued to declare his innocence). He soon learned God had a plan for his life, and that plan was to start a Prison Ministry. Early one morning, Allen heard in his spirit the calling and he obeyed. After picking up his Bible, he walked out into the prison yard and saw a cloud with rain drops falling from it, but behind the cloud was a glow of sunshine. It was then that he heard the words in his spirit, The Showers of Blessing. That was the beginning of this great ministry. The purpose was to:

Encourage incarcerated men, women and their families

Share the word of God

Provide encouragement for families, to look to God for their means of support, strength, hope and survival, for the day to day woes of having a loved one incarcerated

Allen passed in 2012, which brought a closing to the Showers of Blessing Prison Ministry. Because of the suffering and evil in the world today, Jo Ann’s message moving forward is Try God and See.

A God Who Will Keep His Promise

It isn’t always easy as you move toward tomorrow.

May your heart be filled with a knowing and an understanding

of yourself and all that is happening around you.

As you see one door closing, may you also see

others opening…just for you.

And may you feel God’s hand on your shoulder,

in guidance and encouragement.

Thankfulness

We are to be thankful unto God at all times and for all things, but there are those times we question God when death comes and takes a loved one or we are told of an incurable illness in our body. We ask God without fear, Why me? We need to remember that sometimes our questions to God can become part of the problem. We become ungrateful, doubtful, and at times confused. In every difficulty or problem, there is always an opportunity to grow spiritually. All we need to do is ask God’s assistance in trying to understand how to solve our problems. We are not to rely on our own insight, but we are to always put our trust in God and acknowledge Him as the Almighty God.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV).

—Allen Young

A Thankful Heart Pleases God

Psalm 100:1–5 (KJV) says, Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Colossians 3:15 (KJV) says, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV) says, In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

—Jo Ann Young

If I Had Trusted God

Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) says, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. If I had applied that particular scripture to my life and not leaned to my own understanding, the suffering in my life would have been easier to endure. God knows everything. He knows all my needs and all He asks of me is to trust Him.

Philippians 2:14 (KJV) says, Do all things without murmurings and disputing, but I felt as