Sharp, stabbing pain grabbed my chest again. I fumbled for a nitroglycerin pill and clumsily placed it under my tongue. My chest spasmed. I squirmed in agony. It was the worst pain I’d ever experienced.
Hospital, Beijing. China, January 1992.
16th day. They thought I had a heart attack, but weren’t sure.
Doctors didn’t know what to do, but cultural concept of “face” made them refuse to admit it.
I was stuck. I had been teaching in China for 2 ½ years and sharing my faith in Jesus. Every year I was given round trip airfare and a small monthly stipend by the Chinese university that hired me.
But a friend’s mother had a ruptured brain aneurysm and had to make an emergency trip back to see her mother while she lived. She didn’t have airfare. I gave her mine.
I prayed. Of course, I prayed. But not in fear. I had such peace in the hospital. I thought I was facing death, but Jesus was so real to me, I wasn’t afraid to die. I wanted to live, but going to see Jesus would have been awesome too.
After 16 days , Friends – intervention. I didn’t’ want to leave. I loved my students and the Chinese friends I had in Beijing. But I was getting weaker and weaker and my pain was worse, not better. The doctors had no answers.
Flown from hospital in Beijing to hospital in HK. Friend bought me a 1st class ticket. Another friend wheeled me through the airport and put me on the plane.
Christians friends in HK met me and got me to a hospital.
Christian Cardiologist refused to take payment and had me out of the hospital in 24 hours.
I had so many needle marks on my arms from the Beijing hospital, the sent a drug counselor to talkto me about my drug addiction. They thought I was a heroin addict.
I had a bleeding ulcer. It caused acid reflux which was causing the painful spasms in my chest.
I stayed with a family while in Hong Kong, former missionaries. They tenderly loved and cared for me until I was able to travel. I was very weak from my long hospital stay in Beijing.
The wife told a Bible study of lawyers she led about my situation. They gave me thousands of dollars. Enough for the airfare and money for my long recovery once I got back to the U.S.
Every step of the way, God was there. He provided not only money, medical services, transportation, but love, hope, understanding and support.
What began as a disaster where I actually thought I would die, turned into one of the most awesome experiences of my life.
Just as God cared for every one of my needs: physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual, He will care for you. As I look back on this over 30 years later, I am still amazed at the peace and joy I experienced while in such excruciating pain.
Psalm 16:5 NLT
You, Lord, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands.
2 Peter 1:3 NLT
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
John 15:9 TPT
[Jesus said] “I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts.
I know some of you who hear this are facing difficult, maybe impossible situations. I want to assure you that what God did for me he longs to do for you.
DECLARE THIS over yourself. Say it out loud:
*God, You are my provider.
*It doesn’t matter if the economy is up or down. You are my provider.
*When science and medicine fail, You are my healer.
*When I face problems that are greater than me, You know the answers.
*When my heart is broken and no one understands, you do. You know me as no one else does. And your love fills my heart desires.
*You give me everything I need for life and to be like You.
Because You love me, You have made me a son/a daughter.
*There are over 8,000 promises in the Bible.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (Voice) says, “In Jesus we hear a resounding “yes” to all of God’s many promises.”
Through Jesus, everything I need has already been provided.
When I have a need, I will come to You and I will pray in Jesus’ name. And you give me what I need. You are my provider.
Thank You, Father, for being a great Dad.
You give me so much every day of my life.
I will forever be grateful for my life filled with all the wonders you provide.
Activation – Give Thanks Today for God’s Provision for You (SEE THE ACTIVATION IN THE VIDEO)