The Sweetness of the Lord's Presence;
His Rich Grace That Makes Me Humble and Reverent
At the end of 2014, without the slightest warning, my body underwent a great change because of illness, and I fell into extreme suffering. All at once I grew weary of life and lost hope. Through the Lord's mercy, on one occasion I attended a meal gathering when brothers from Israel were visiting Taiwan, and there I had the opportunity to fellowship with Brother Wu about the condition of my illness. When he learned of it, he was very concerned about my problem, and he shared with me his own experience of treating illness, also speaking of the possibility of going abroad for medical treatment. This greatly stunned me, because I had never thought of this option, nor had I ever had the courage to make such a decision. But he kept encouraging me, even volunteering to accompany me there, strengthening my faith. His active care and continual encouragement moved me deeply, for the very first time I fellowshipped with Brother Wu about my difficulty, I felt his kindness and comfort—he sympathized with my suffering and was all the more willing to help. So that I might better understand the process of seeking medical care abroad, he set aside time for me, so that whenever I needed to fellowship and pray, I could go to find him at the Living Stream Building, and he gave me timely help.
In 2015 I decided to go to the mainland to seek treatment, and Brother Wu personally accompanied me throughout. In the process of inquiring into and learning about the hospital, because of my own lack of faith, I had a slight clash with the local doctor during the questioning. Brother Wu, like an elder of a father's generation, comforted me in a kind and gentle tone: "Since you have come, then believe," letting me lay down my own burden and inner unrest. Brother Wu prayed for me, asking for God's leading and keeping. And during those few days, every day Brother Wu would share with me and my family what he saw—the traces of the Lord ordering all things in the midst—and this built up in us, throughout the process, "the faith that the Lord is with us." His words and his analysis let me know with what attitude Brother Wu faced things, how each day he experienced the Lord and sensed God, and I also saw the anointing of God upon Brother Wu. This bearing left a deep impression on me!
I made up my mind to face the surgery, and under the Lord's keeping, together with my family's persevering prayer, I recovered smoothly and beyond expectation. This seemingly suffering process let me truly experience the sweetness of the Lord's presence and the riches of His grace.
After returning to Taiwan, Brother Wu still cared for me from time to time concerning my recovery after the surgery, interceding for me and encouraging me, so that, full of faith, I might grow strong after my rebirth. I came to understand even more the love of Christ and the power of the faith, which transformed me from one who had merely been "a Christian in name" into a Christian who knows how to be humble and to revere God.
I often think that, were it not for the Lord's love and Brother Wu's earnestness—originally I was just a little sister, whose sphere of life and meetings had no point of contact with Brother Wu at all—yet because of one meeting and one act of care, so great a change was brought into my life. For this I am deeply grateful to him. Even more do I thank the Lord that in the church life He arranged such a brother, one who lives out the life of the Lord Jesus, to help me!