One day in this September, when I was making a phone call in the street, my husband whom I hadn’t seen for more than one year suddenly appeared before me and forced me to go home with him. As soon as I entered the gate of my house, my daughter ran over and embraced me, saying, “Mom, where have you been? I miss you so much; you will not leave from now on, will you? …” Her words caused me to feel gusts of distress at heart. My husband also poured out to me the difficulties he had over the more than one year and tried to persuade me not to run around anymore but to live a peaceful life at home. Moreover, he said he would buy me whatever I wanted…. My parents-in-law also echoed his words by his side. Hearing their words and looking at the comfortable family environment, I couldn’t help wavering in my heart and cast aside my resolution made before God. I thought, “How pleasant it is to enjoy family happiness at home; why should I suffer outside? Moreover, I have to receive criticism when there is no result achieved in the work….” Just when I was perplexed, the hymn from God’s word “Ought to Pursue a Meaningful Life” appeared in my mind: “You have to possess a practical love, and have to do everything possible to free yourself from such a fallen life, from such a carefree animal life. Don’t play with your life as a toy…. Don’t treat yourself irresponsibly; don’t fool yourself. Will you still have such an opportunity to love God after your life glides away? Can you possibly love God after your death? You have to have resolution and conscience like Peter’s and have to live in a meaningful way. Don’t fool yourself!” Every word of the hymn struck my heart. I cannot give up pursuing the truth to make my flesh easy and comfortable. Will I not fall into the trap of satan if I do so? Today, God has given me the chance to perform my duty to repay his love; I cannot give up my duty at this crucial time. I will repent myself unto death if I miss this chance. Having thought of these, I made up my mind to choose to satisfy God.

On the next morning, looking at my husband and daughter who were fast asleep and thinking of the whole family’s urging me to stay the day before, I felt distressed and was in two minds. Just at that moment, God’s words inspired me once again: “You, who are a created being, should worship God and pursue a meaningful life. If you don’t worship God, living in the filthy flesh, won’t you become a beast in human attire? Since you are a human, you ought to expend for God and bear all sufferings! As for the few sufferings you are undergoing now, you ought to accept them while feeling happy and steady in your heart, so as to live out a meaningful life….” God’s words woke up my heart that was sunk in sleep: I cannot live like a beast. God’s intention in creating me is for me to perform my duty as a created being and worship him, not for me to seek ease and comfort for the flesh on earth. If I do so, I will really badly break God’s heart. O God! I am grateful that you have arranged such circumstances to refine me, so that I can have the opportunity to undergo sufferings and bear a testimony for you. I am willing to endure the sufferings and give up the things I love. I am willing to lay aside my harmonious family to expend for you and pursue to live out a meaningful life, so as not to disappoint your salvation for me through your incarnation or your painstaking care and the price you paid for me. Encouraged by the words of God, I resolutely stepped out of my house and again threw myself into performing my duty.

Linlin

Dalian City