I started to write my prayer requests in a journal in 2019. But in 2022, I bitterly stopped. Let me tell you this story.
In 2019, I prayed in writing for a ministry work for my wife and me to do together. When COVID-19 crushed our small business here in China, I prayed even more. The business would show signs of hope, only to be crushed again. Some ministries would emerge and then fade away. We were at half salaries for two full years. I wrote deeply heartfelt prayers about the ministry and the business, which was my life’s work and was dying.
The written prayers were like evidence against my belief that God still lives and works. It all seemed so dead and disappointing. So, I stopped writing prayers in 2022 as reading what I wrote in my past prayer requests was killing me. Everything was unanswered for years. I reminded myself that Abraham waited for 25 years, and confessed that I was far from his level.
At the end of 2022, China ended its COVID-19 policy. We felt we were saved for the business. But then, US–China relations took a dive when a Chinese balloon went over America. Our Western customers withdrew in fear. The bottom fell out, and we had no more money to put into the business.
It seemed we were finished. I was devastated. My wife and I fell upon the song, “You Are My Hiding Place” and cried as we sang it over and over.
Afloat spiritually, but still feeling lost and desperate, I looked for other work. I found one, but it broke my heart as I did not want this job. I was so mad at God. I went kicking and screaming to this second job. I was bitter.
Then, a small ministry opportunity opened up for my wife and me to do together through my second job. Business also started to boom, and I had two jobs and felt overwhelmed. I was stubborn but finally re-adjusted how I did the jobs and settled in. Then, one person prayed to receive Christ and then two more as my wife and I worked together. God gave us a ministry that brought us to life again. Also, we just finished our best business year ever.
I would never have taken a second job if our first had not been destroyed. God tried everything to lead my wife and me into the ministry together. However, God saw that only destroying our business could get us there. So, he did, and then once he got us there, he brought it all back.
The Bible in James 1:2 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (NIV).
Tongue in cheek, we say to each other in times of trial now, “Do we have pure joy yet?”
God is not dead in China, and he never will be. He is working his purpose out and giving us some paths to work with him in the times we are in. We went kicking and screaming to the good place God was taking us. We are glad to be here.
Image credit: Ryan Holloway via Unsplash
Jim Nelson
Jim Nelson graduated from West Point in 1987 and moved to China in 1991. His goal has always been to proudly hold the cross high and contribute positively to China and the government. He has taught English, studied Chinese full time, started and led a Christian nonprofit, and has been the …View Full Bio
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