Annie Johnson Flint was born on Christmas Eve 1866. The father was English and her mother Scottish. Her mother (23) died 3 years later giving birth. Not long after the father died and they were adopted into the Flint Family, who were devote Baptists. Here she learned the courage she would need later in life, when she would be hemmed in by many trials.

Annie was a cheerful, optimistic, and pretty teenager. As a young woman she started teaching but within 3 years began to be crippled with painful arthritis. It steadily grew worse until it became difficult for her to walk at all. At this time both her adoptive parents died within three months of each other. She was now an invalid.

With a pen pushed through bent fingers and held by swollen joints she wrote first without any thought that it might be an avenue of ministry, or that it would bring her returns that might help in her support. Many of her poems and cards were published. She always struggled to make ends meet.

Annie became thoroughly convinced that God intended to glorify Himself through her, in her weak, earthen vessel, and like Paul she had three times and more prayed that this might be taken from her, there came to her with real assurance the promise which said, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” She reached the place where she could also say with Paul, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me” [2Cor.12:9].

The last years of her life brought her no ease from her affliction, no lessening of pain and suffering. In fact, the disease became worse with the passing of years, and new complications developed. But through it all her faith in the goodness and mercy of God never wavered. and she was at all times able to say, “Thy will be done.” Her suffering was unceasing. September 8th, 1932 (aged 66) Annie J Flint died.
In considering the life of Annie Johnson Flint one is perplexed with questions as old as humanity itself, such as the mystery of pain and suffering, that the righteous should pass through the furnace, sometimes heated seven times, is a great stumbling block to many people. Tomorrow the song! Read 1Peter.1:6