“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Here’s a letter that appeared in The Alliance Witness, 12/10/86, titled “A Letter Written to Vietnamese Friends in Canada.” This lady’s husband, a pastor in Vietnam, was thrown in jail when their church was closed, and she and her children were forced into horrendous living conditions:
My Dear Friends,
You know around here we are experiencing hardships, but we thank the Lord He is comforting us and caring for us in every way. When we experience misfortune, adversity, distress, and hardship, only then do we see the real blessing of the Lord poured down on us in such a way that we cannot contain it.
We have been obliged recently to leave our modest apartment and for over two months have been living on a balcony. The rain has been beating down and soaking us. Sometimes in the middle of the night we are forced to gather our blankets and run to seek refuge in a stairwell.
Do you know what I do then? I laugh and I praise the Lord, because we can still take shelter in the stairwell. I think of how many people are experiencing much worse hardships than I am. Then I remember the words of the Lord; “To the poor, O Lord, You are a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat (Isaiah 25:4),” and I am greatly comforted.
Our Father is the One who according to the Scriptures does not break the bruised reed nor put out the flickering lamp. He is the One who looks after the orphan and the widow. He is the One who brings blessings and peace to numberless people. I do not know what words to use in order to describe the love that the Lord has shown our family. I only can bow my knee and my heart and offer to the Lord words of deepest thanks and praise. Although we have lost our house and our possessions, we have not lost the Lord, and He is enough. With the Lord I have everything. The only thing I would fear losing is His blessing!
Could I ask you and our friends in the churches abroad to continue to pray for me that I will faithfully follow the Lord and serve Him regardless of what the circumstances may be?
As far as my husband in concerned, I was able to visit him this past summer. We had a twenty-minute conversation that brought us great joy.
I greet you with my love. Mrs. Nguyen Thi.
I find it interesting that this faithful Christ follower did not ask her friends to pray for better living conditions. She asked them to pray that she would faithfully follow the Lord no matter what. She says her hardship and adversity allows her to really see how good God is. Can we say the same?
Writer Phillip Yancey once said, “On my travels overseas I have noticed a striking difference in the wording of prayers. Christians in affluent countries tend to pray, ‘Lord, take this trial away from us!’ I have heard prisoners, persecuted Christians, and some who live in very poor countries pray instead, ‘Lord, give us the strength to bear this trial.’”
For what are you I praying?
Play to win this week in the game that really counts!
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