Finding Strength and Peace / A LONG JOURNEY TO BELIEVE GOD (6)

Finding Strength in the Time of Feeling Overwhelmed

During my life, some things didn’t go the way as I expected. I had to be comforted because there was a light behind the clouds. I decided to think of the best, and to spend time with people who bring up the best in me rather than stress in me.

 There was a Chinese-Christian Life Group in the town. It was organized by a church outside the town. The group focused on Bible study and member care. The group leaders were a couple, Miss Hong and Mr. Qingbing. They were college students and all other members were the international students and their spouses. My son and I joined that group too. Every Friday night, we got together to sing songs with all our hearts, and then learn the Bible. The senior members taught the fresh ones. Even though their knowledge of the Bible was limited, they did their best in teaching.  The funny thing was we song spiritual songs in Chinese, spoke Chinese, but read the Bible in English. So far I still remember some classic scriptures, such as “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28” and “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34.” These scriptures soothed our moods, healed our wound, and help us be peace in the times of feeling overwhelmed.

Member care was a priority task for the group. All members came from overseas and lived far away from the home towns. Homesick bothered everyone. We were eager to find laughter and love. The group did the greatest job in member care. They provided transportation to help each other to go shopping or go to a place they have to be. In this group, even though we just spent weekend time together, or it might not be able to solve some problems in particular, we all had a feeling that we were care for and supported. The best gift group members had given others was their time, concern, and love. The group members had become stronger and stronger because we all experienced a hard time. We loved each other because we had experienced the pain of being alone. We were all happy because we had experienced sadness.