Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose Book Analysis

Mankind searches for purpose. This search can span an entire lifetime for many and yield no answer. However, for some people, this search ends with a clear path directly related to their purpose. Even then, some people choose not to follow their path because it will have difficulties and hardships. Some choose to turn away while others freely embrace the difficulties because they know that in the end the purpose they were placed on earth for will be completed. These few that choose to follow the path can best be compared to missionaries. Missionaries know that taking the word of God to foreign and domestic nations will be dangerous and difficult. Yet, they realize that their God-given purpose far surpasses the difficulty they may face. In the novel Evidence Not Seen missionaries Darlene Deibler and her husband Russell Deibler follow God's calling for them to teach him in a foreign place as they face not only imprisonment, bombings, illness, separation, starvation, war, and death, but Gods miracles and saving grace. 

Newlyweds Darlene and Russell knew that God had called them to ministry in the city of Macassar in the East Indies. While in Macassar World War II broke out forcing the couple to question whether to remain in Macassar or go back to the US. They turned to prayer asking God to provide direction. Yet, they knew in their hearts God wanted them to stay. Little did they know not long after that it would be the last time they would ever be together. Soon the Japanese invaded and took over Macassar ending with them in prison camps and having to leave their wonderful wedding gifts and other important items behind. While Darlene and the other missionaries were taken to a prison camp for women and children deep in the jungles of New Guinea, Russell was taken to a prison camp in Pare Pare. Before completely losing contact with him Darlene was able to secretly receive a couple of letters from Russell. 

While in the women’s prison camp, Darlene found herself helpless against the abuse. She was forced to witness her friends being beaten , had to work everyday, and faced many diseases. Dysentery was also beginning to be an epidemic in the camp. Even through these difficulties, her faith in God never wavered. He repeatedly saved her from harm and used her to minister to the women and children of the camp even the head of the camp Mr. Yamaji respected her for it and believed what she said about God even when he did not fully understand. Later Darlene was moved into a prison and put on death row due to false accusations against her from a man she had previously seen in the woods while exploring the camp. While there, she was weakened, starved, interrogated, and had her faith put to the test, yet never lost it. While she was there she would climb onto a window ledge protected by bars and one day found a knife. She felt scared, anxious, and confused as to how it ended up there and what to do with it. She prayed that the Japanese would not find it and think it was hers and make her situation worse. The next day she checked to see if it was still there and it was not. She did not want to know who it belonged to nor where it came from; she was just relieved it was gone. Another incident of God performing miracles is when Darlene was at her absolute worst weak, starved, and mentally and physically exhausted from interrogations. She prayed that somehow she would be able to have a banana and resumed to tell God how crazy she sounded and that even though he is God there was no way to ever get bananas. The next day ninety-two bananas were sent to her from Mr. Yamiji. Once again, proving that through God, anything was possible. 

All together I thought it was an inspirational and moving story. Even after everything Darlene went through and when she was in the nursing home she had people visiting her because of her story and was able to still minister to them. It shows that even in the darkest times God does not leave nor forsake you. It has helped me grow in my faith and bring me to a closer relationship with God.  

Within the novel Evidence Not Seen evangelists Darlene Deibler and her spouse Russell Deibler take after God's calling for them to instruct him in a outside place as they confront not only bombings, sickness, partition, starvation, war, and passing, but supernatural occurrences and sparing beauty.  Darlene Deibler faced so many hardships just to bring more people to God, and all throughout God's power is shown and proven. Even as she is on death row for false accusations of being a spy he pulled her out and brought her back home safely and was able to share her story with many people, bringing more and more closer to God. This shows that even when you are going through a hard time and do not understand why there is always a greater plan that is out of your hands.