Gold by Moonlight

by Amy Carmichael

Written as an encouragement for those going through a dark period in life, Gold by Moonlight seeks to apply God's truths to our moments of need, difficulty and illness.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Faith, Devotional, Nonfiction, Christianity

206 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1935

About the author

Amy Wilson Carmichael was a Protestant Christian missionary in India, who opened an orphanage and founded a mission in Dohnavur. She served in India for 55 years without furlough and wrote many books about the missionary work there.

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is meat and mentorship by one who has gone before. Requires small bites but renders dense nutrients.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy Carmichael (1867-1951), missionary to India, lived with severe pain most of her life. Gold by Moonlight was written to encourage fellow sufferers to persevere in the faith. She walks a very fine line between gentleness (allowing for the fact that pain often brings irrational thinking) and no-nonsense advice (discouraging all self-pity.)

At times the language in the book is difficult and the prose is dense. Sources (most unnamed) are as varied John Buchan novels, Pilgrim's Progress, Victorian poets, and missionary biographies of a hundred years ago. Because of the antiquated language this book needs to be read slowly. Because of it's unflinching call to Christian maturity, it also needs to be read prayerfully.

I have many favorite quotes but my favorite was this one: "We live a double life. Forces of distress may assail us (as they continually assailed our Lord), and we are called to labor from the rising of the morning till the stars appear, and yet all the time in the inner life of the spirit we are marvelously quickened, and raised up and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (p. 218)

A very worthwhile book for patient readers, especially those who are feeling side-lined by difficult circumstances.

[Carol Bakker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Although the book was first published in 1935, the language often sounded nineteenth century. But as I read I often thought Amy knew my thoughts and personal struggles.

This book is a collection of essays about the Christian life, each one accompanied by a photograph from Bavaria or Austria. Amy Carmichael writes for those 'walking in difficult places.'

There is blessing prepared for the unoffended.

The pledged word of God to man is no puffball to break at a touch and scatter into dust. It is iron. It is gold, that most malleable of all metals.

We never do glide into any act of faith.

The grey scum of selfishness in our human love will float to the surface of our soul and be discovered by us, if we are willing to allow the Refiner to blow up His fire.

[Victoria Coblentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book begs to be savoured, bit by bit, with a pen in hand to copy quotable lines (and there are many). It speaks specifically to walking through grief or a valley of some type, and spoke directly to my soul.

The closing lines:
“One evening, as we sat at the end of India on the rocks of Cape Comorin, a little fishing boat sailed into the sunset. It was only a rough thing made of three logs tied together, and its sail was a mere rag, but it was transfigured. To see it so was like seeing the mortal put on immortality, the temporal take on the beauty of the eternal.
Usually, I think, a speck of earth entangled in such glory would show dark against the glory, but that evening, so mighty were the powers of the golden air, that all of earth was swallowed up. It was a figure of the true. It held us speechless. As I think of it I hear again the lapping of the waves that filled the silence and see the lighted waters in the after-glow.
But what we call sunset the heavenly people call sunrise, and the Joy of the Lord, and the Morning of God.”

Thank you, Bekah, for lending it to me.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of courage. So many times I have come back to this book, and I always come away filled with hope and courage to go on, in spite of the pain. It is gentle and understanding--the author herself walked through tremendous pain--but it is not soft. You will be challenged and encouraged and blessed. If you are going through any sort of pain, read this book!

[Rebekah Barkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Amy Carmichael book I’ve read to date. I read the old vintage version, full of black and white film photos. Each chapter is based off one of the photos and Amy offers incredible encouragement, particularly centered around suffering.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has contained the most healing words I have found during an incredibly difficult year. The author uses the wisdom she gained during her own years of pain to share with others.

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was challenging, convicting, and encouraging. The book was written with those who are suffering physically in mind, but the truths and admonishment and encouragement are apropos for any believer going through a difficult time.

The idea for the book came from a quote by Rutherford (presumably Samuel) - "It is possible to gather gold, where it may be had, with moonlight." Even in the darkness, the moon shines a beautiful gold, and for the child of God, there is gold to be had while going through difficulties and "dark" times.

I read this slowly over a period of months and made many notations and markings. It is a book I will return to.

A quote from the very first chapter is "So, to be surprised when the rain descends and the floods come, and the winds blow and beat upon the house, as though some strange thing happened unto us, is unreasonable and unjust; it so miscalls our good Master, who never told us to build for fair weather or even to be careful to build out of reach of floods."

This book also contains a wealth of scripture and a wealth of encouragement!

I would give it 4 1/2 stars if I could. My only caveat is that Amy Carmichael sometimes quotes from the mystics.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

First printed in 1935, my copy in ‘48, with old black and white scenery pictures that require some imagination to see the beauty. My book was given to my great aunt in 1950. Knowing she was an avid student of the Bible and a godly woman made it special to read over her shoulder 70 years later.

The content is devotional and full of Scripture and poetry. Written to encourage people going through trying times, the biblical promises are helpful, though the trials are not specified, which sometimes left me a little unclear as to the problems for which solutions were offered. But I can picture my great aunt Carrie reading with delight and deep comfort.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time with this book at first. It is full of metaphors and analogies that I had a hard time grasping. There are references to many people I just don't know. By the end though, I really liked it. It helped lift my spirit and made me feel that life's troubles have a purpose and there IS a reward for plodding through with my head held high.

[Lisa Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely book oozes peace and love of God. The author uses an older style of writing but it is absolutely poetic and lyrical. She has a way of presenting ideas in a way that cuts straight to your heart. Best read in sips so that you don’t miss out on any of her insights or any insights God wants you to receive.

[Florence Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that stays on or near to the top of my reading pile; one that I have not read through from cover to cover in order, but in bits and pieces, picked up as the need arises, for a bit of “Gold by Moonlight”. Amy Carmichael writings are full of gems mined by her, found hidden in the crevases of her pain. She is one of my all time favorite authors.

[Jackie Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is packed with wisdom not only for the one who is under trial, but simply one who wants to follow Jesus in this life. A beautifully written book on how to suffer well and trust the secret work of Jesus - constantly reminding in its pages what a joyous eternity awaits His children!

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of rich and thought-provoking ideas, as always with Amy Carmichael, a favorite of mine. I enjoyed reading it slowly and copying passages, and thinking on the pictures and ideas presented.

[Kelsey Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have ever read on suffering. You will find ropes from Heaven in this book. I will re-read this time and again.

[Elizabeth Twombly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will write a longer review once I process through this book some more.

[Lisa Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read and going to start re-reading immediately. A treasure.