Answered prayer: a testimony of faith and encouragement

A friend of ours wrote us an e-mail about answered prayers they experienced on a recent trip to China. They knew that we were going through a time of trials and wanted to encourage us. They succeeded. With their permission here is an edited version of their testimony. (Only personal references and names were edited out, to preserve their privacy.) I hope that you find it encouraging too.

We're back from our trip to China. It was quite and experience. It started with the trip being a gift from a lady who felt that since my mother and brother were going, we needed to go also. I had lived in Taiwan as a teen. It was supposed to be an all expense paid trip, but when the tickets et al came, there were added expenses like "tipping". That was going to cost upwards to $300.00, an impossible amount to come out of our budget. I started praying about it (trying not to moan and groan as is my inclination.) Then the Lord reminded me of how we prayed for our son's finances when he was due to go to SPBC. He and I started out praying and wound up just thanking the Lord for how He would arrange the finances. Then we stepped back and waited. He went entirely through SPBC with no debt except for $750 which he will tell you was his own impatience.

Before we left, I had asked God what I told Him was an impossible prayer: (But He is the God of the impossible.) I wanted to witness to a Chinese person. I don't speak but minimal Chinese left over for 50+ years. So he would have to speak English. I can't give any information that might identify that person, but a person came up to me on the street and showed me an ancient Chinese coin. He could read the words, but didn't understand the meaning. You'll never guess what the words were (because if you guess John 3:16 you're wrong.) It's Hebrews 2:3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? So, I had the wonderful experience of standing on a street corner and witnessing to a Chinese person. He was very receptive, but the cost is great in China and while it is never an easy decision, the steep cost in China could well be life or death or imprisonment. I also had a brief exchange in Hong Kong. That was fun too, but all I got to do was give him a tract.

I wanted to share the first part of the financial answer to our prayers with you to encourage you. I can not even begin to guess why you and your family are plowing through such a difficult time. But I can tell you, He hears your every prayer and knows the agony of your heart. You are not forgotten anymore than we were forgotten when our employer fired us without notice. If we couldn't have lived with my parents, we would have been on the street. ... But God saw us through.

We have this prayer and blessing from the Lord for you and your family: 1 Samuel 25:6 "Say to him: 'Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!'" We encourage you to begin to daily thank God for how He is going to give you health and long life. Yes, of course, you can tell Him what's on your heart. He knows anyway. But I've learned once again to tell Him what's going on and then thank Him for how He is going to work for me/us and bring glory to Himself at the same time.

I hope you will accept this preaching to a preacher. But sometimes we all need to be reminded of what we've learned before but tend to forget in the midst of trials.

Written May 2007



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker