Daily Devotional

Annie Smith was early in her life committed to the cause of Christ. At age 10, in 1838, she joined the Baptist Church. Six years later, Annie and her mother, Rebekah, cast their lot with the Millerite movement, which expected the return of Jesus in 1844.

Following the Great Disappointment of that year, Annie turned her efforts to the arts, studying for several years and developing skills in poetry and visual arts.

This concentration on artistic endeavors and secular success worried her mother. Rebekah Smith shared her worries with Joseph Bates, the former sea captain who would help found the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Bates told Annie’s mother to write a letter urging the young woman to attend meetings the preacher would have at the home of Elizabeth Temple in Boston, where Annie was pursuing her goals.

The night before the meeting, both Bates and Annie Smith had the same dream: The meeting had begun, the first hymn had been sung, and only one seat, near the door, remained. The door opened and in came a young woman, taking that final chair.

That dream unfolded in real life: Annie had left to attend the meeting on time, but got lost, and only arrived for that last available seat.

“I believe this is Sister Smith’s daughter, of West Wilton [New Hampshire],” Bates said. “I never saw you before, but your countenance looks familiar. I dreamed of seeing you last night.”

Annie confessed she’d had the same dream. Quickly, she aligned with the fledgling Adventist cause.

Now, Annie turned her talents towards advancing the message and not her worldly success. Within a month, her poem, “Fear Not, Little Flock,” arrived at the offices of the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald and appeared in print. James White, then the editor, asked Annie—summoned her, actually—to Saratoga Springs, New York, to copy-edit the paper. At first the young woman demurred, citing the damage eyestrain had caused her vision. White persisted, and shortly after Annie’s arrival, prayer and anointing with oil resulted in a healing.

Annie’s eyes were opened, and what she saw next would change her life— and create a legacy for the nascent movement.

Reflect: Have you had your eyes opened to a situation to which you were blind? God promises to open the eyes of our heart to see Him.