In Startling Moments Appeared the Love of God

By Li Min

“Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever” (Psalms 23: 4-6).

Amen! Every time I read these scriptures, I am deeply moved. Thinking back to my experiences, I see that there had been many times when I’d been in danger and the Lord had protected me and made the danger disappear. When I counted God’s grace, a dangerous scene flashed into my mind …

Sister Xiaohua and I were co-workers shepherding the church. One of the churches we shepherded located across the Songhua River, and the meeting place was more than 10 kilometers from my place. The river was very deep and ran between two mountains. Because there was no ferryboat, so every time before the meeting, Sister Wang or her brother would take us to the meeting place by their private boat (for 3 people only) and come to bring us back two days later.

One day after lunch, Sister Wang was rowing us across the river. It was an early fall day with a cloudless sky. The sun was shining and the river was as peaceful and clear as a mirror. On the way, we chatted and laughed, talking about the Lord’s grace. We also sang the hymns of praise to the Lord together: “Our God Almighty! Our God Almighty! … ” Although it was a long trip, we didn’t feel tired at all. Sister Wang was in a particularly good mood and listened to our singing with a smile. She was becoming more and more energetic and rowed faster. The boat went forward airily for at least three meters each time she paddled.

When we were about three kilometers to the meeting place, some clouds appeared over the mountains, making the sky overcast. The smile on Sister Wang’s face suddenly disappeared, and she said to us in a serious voice, “I gotta row faster, because it’s going to rain.” I wondered: “It’s just some clouds. How can it rain right now?” As I doubted, the clouds were getting thicker and the gales carrying waves were ruffling the river, and then it heavily rained. We were going against the waves and the boat was swaying in the wind. Just then, Sister Wang shouted at me, “Sister Li Min, turn around the bow please!” As soon as the sister’s voice subsided, a roaring wave crashed over us like it did in a movie. I was paralyzed by fear and my mind went blank: “I’ve never learned to turn around a bow.” However, the waves were coming toward our boat. In the startling moment, I closed my eyes and pulled back the paddle on the left side. Surprisingly, the bow was turned around at once, just before a big wave hit us. Our escape was in such great peril! Had the wave pounded against the boat, the boat would have turned over and we would have fallen into the river. The consequences would have been disastrous.

The sister held the rudder tightly, and the boat was flowing in the direction of the waves. We three were moved to tears. At that time, we were wet through. The dangerous scene continued to play fearfully through my mind. I couldn’t help remembering the words in Luke 8: 22-25: “Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said to them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him.” Pondering over these scriptures, I deeply felt that the disciples’ story and the scene we’d just experienced were so alike. Recalling the dangerous scene, I could feel that God is with us, true and real, and that He is the very present help of us, keeping us safe. Sister Wang said, “Luckily you pulled the left paddle. If you had pulled the right one, the wave would have directly hit us and the boat would have definitely turned over.” I said, “Actually, I had no idea which paddle to pull. When the wave came, it was the Lord’s guidance and arrangement that made us safe.”

It was still raining. Our boat was blown ashore. We got on the riverbank and hid under a big tree. Sister Wang said, “Thank the Lord for His protection! Every year, many people go fishing on this river and die when their boats capsize in storms. Today we’re saved from danger. It really is the Lord’s protection!” Hearing the sister’s words, I was deeply moved and couldn’t help saying, “Thank the Lord! It really is the Lord’s protection! The river is so deep, and I can’t swim. So if I had fallen into it, I would have definitely died.” Together, we made a grateful prayer to the Lord to thank His wonderful protection. About half an hour later, the wind and the rain stopped. The river became calm, and we began to cross the river again. This time, Sister Wang rowed us to the meeting place safely.

Two days later, Sister Wang came to take us. On our way back, she told me and Sister Xiaohua the story after she got home that day. It was over 8 o’clock that evening when she got home. Her husband was sitting in a daze on the chair. When he saw Sister Wang, he quickly grabbed her and held her to his chest. He said, crying, “Thank the Lord! He listened to my prayer and protected you by bringing you back safely.” Later Sister Wang learned that when the storm came that day, her husband saw a huge water column spinning on the river before their house. Beginning to fear the worst, he knelt on the floor and prayed. He calculated that even at the highest speed we could not reach the other side of the river before it rained, so he guessed that something must have happened to us …

I listened to the sister quietly, and my tears streamed down uncontrollably. Then I remembered a scripture in Psalms: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1). Indeed, many times we will meet something unexpected or even an accident in life. In the midst of danger, we can do nothing but tremble with fear helplessly. Only God can protect us and save us from danger. In addition, I see that God is the Creator of all things, and the Ruler of all things, which means He orchestrates all things. God’s authority is unique and cannot be exceeded. Thank God! Although I experienced a dangerous environment, I have more faith in God after this incident.

Thank God! May God’s love be with each of us. Amen!