In this "One-Semester Memior" assignment, we need write a non-fiction story based on real event which must relate to myself and occur during this semester. Non-fiction story combines showing and telling. I chose to write about how God responded my prayer.
Prayer was answered
It was Saturday night. After the closing prayer, I bid farewell to all the church members. My pastor Joe walked me out of his home. As usual, he said, "See you next week!" Then I opened the door of my car and sat in. I took a deep breath in and breathed out. Two shoulders relaxed. I started my car and pulled away from the curb slowly. After around 10 minutes, I arrived at home. Nobody was in the house. I closed the sliding door and sat down on my chair. I crossed legs on the desk which was right beside the door. Unlike before, I kept the floor lamp off and didn't put on my pajamas. The atmosphere was great. But I felt troubled. .
My faith is Christianity. I started going to church on every Saturday since 8 years ago in China. Later, as I came to the United States in 2010, I started going to a home church which was led by a couple, Joe and Cynthia. Joe has retired several years ago. Since then, he committed most of time to running this church.
I felt troubled because my faith is fading away. Since I came to America, I read bible or talked about Jesus only when I was in church. For the rest six days of a week, I lived in secular world. My faith has been devastated by this kind of life. I urgently need a partner with whom I can share God’s words daily and grow up together spiritually.
So I closed my eyes and prayed,
"Heavenly father, my faith is draining away. I need at least one spiritual friend who is at my age. So we can share bible words daily and grow up spiritually together. Please arrange such a person to me. Please. Pray in Jesus name. Amen."
Right after the Amen, I heard the sound of key's going into the lock. My fiancee walked in with two Shoptrite plastic bags on both of her hands. She left the bags at the entrance and calmly walked into the bedroom without talking or looking at me.
I mumbled to myself, "She is still mad at me."
I can't remember how many times we quarreled for the same reason. She asked me countless times, “When are we going to marry?” Every time, I tried to change the topic because she is not a believer. I have always believed that the marriage would be a disaster if my partner doesn’t have the same faith with me. However, I can't tell her the real reason. I'm afraid that once I told her the truth, she would break up with me. I don't want to lose her.
While I was still thinking, she came out from the bedroom with her pajamas on. She turned the land lamp on and talked to me,
"I need to talk to you."
I put my legs down immediately.
"I don't know why you always try to run away from the marriage topic. You said you are busy working and studying. So you don't have time to consider our marriage. I accept it. Then you should give me a time frame that when we will marry. But you still don't tell me anything. Please, just tell me what you are thinking about.Okay?"
I looked at her for few seconds. I felt exhausted mentally for not spitting out those words.
I blurted, "Alright. I’ll tell you the truth. You don't believe in Jesus. And I want to marry a person who has the same faith with me. This is what I am thinking about."
She followed with a voice that sounded calm and helpless, "So you wish I can be a believer. But did you help me? No, you didn't. I even don't know who is Jesus. You tell me how come I believe something about which I know nothing?" Then she turned back and rushed into the bedroom.
I bent my head down. I realized I have been wrong. We have known each other for more than 2 years, and I never talked to her about Jesus Christ. I only selfishly wished she could become a believer.
A few minutes later, I walked into the bedroom. She sat on the bed with her back toward me.
I asked, "Hey, You Okay?"
No answer.
I continued, “I know it's my bad. I shouldn't always block you out of my mind. How about we read the bible together every night? I promise I will do it with you every day, no matter how busy I am."
She turned back and said, "Okay. You want to start from tonight?"
"Sure! Give me your phone."
"Why?"
"Let me download the bible for you."
"I have it. Actually I have read some of it. The other day, I read about the Ark. So we can start from there."
Then she walked out. I paused there for a little bit.
I can't believe what happened just now. I was extremely surprised by how fast God responded to my prayer. Not only responding to my prayer, also He settled another problem for me. He knew I was struggling with my fiancee about the marriage, which I never prayed about.
I walked out with a faint smile on my face. I took out my bible from the straw of desk and sat on the floor. Then we started to read from Genesis. She read 10 verses. Then I followed her with another 10 verses.
Every night we read in turns for 30 minutes. Whenever she doesn't understand the verses, I explain to her. Most times, I don't understand either. Then we ask for the help from Holy Spirit and look up the reference materials.
This paper is secret to my fiancee. She still doesn't know what happened between me and God on that night. I envision someday she will be baptized. I want to tell her all of this at her baptism. What blessing it is for both of us!
Prayer was answered
It was Saturday night. After the closing prayer, I bid farewell to all the church members. My pastor Joe walked me out of his home. As usual, he said, "See you next week!" Then I opened the door of my car and sat in. I took a deep breath in and breathed out. Two shoulders relaxed. I started my car and pulled away from the curb slowly. After around 10 minutes, I arrived at home. Nobody was in the house. I closed the sliding door and sat down on my chair. I crossed legs on the desk which was right beside the door. Unlike before, I kept the floor lamp off and didn't put on my pajamas. The atmosphere was great. But I felt troubled. .
My faith is Christianity. I started going to church on every Saturday since 8 years ago in China. Later, as I came to the United States in 2010, I started going to a home church which was led by a couple, Joe and Cynthia. Joe has retired several years ago. Since then, he committed most of time to running this church.
I felt troubled because my faith is fading away. Since I came to America, I read bible or talked about Jesus only when I was in church. For the rest six days of a week, I lived in secular world. My faith has been devastated by this kind of life. I urgently need a partner with whom I can share God’s words daily and grow up together spiritually.
So I closed my eyes and prayed,
"Heavenly father, my faith is draining away. I need at least one spiritual friend who is at my age. So we can share bible words daily and grow up spiritually together. Please arrange such a person to me. Please. Pray in Jesus name. Amen."
Right after the Amen, I heard the sound of key's going into the lock. My fiancee walked in with two Shoptrite plastic bags on both of her hands. She left the bags at the entrance and calmly walked into the bedroom without talking or looking at me.
I mumbled to myself, "She is still mad at me."
I can't remember how many times we quarreled for the same reason. She asked me countless times, “When are we going to marry?” Every time, I tried to change the topic because she is not a believer. I have always believed that the marriage would be a disaster if my partner doesn’t have the same faith with me. However, I can't tell her the real reason. I'm afraid that once I told her the truth, she would break up with me. I don't want to lose her.
While I was still thinking, she came out from the bedroom with her pajamas on. She turned the land lamp on and talked to me,
"I need to talk to you."
I put my legs down immediately.
"I don't know why you always try to run away from the marriage topic. You said you are busy working and studying. So you don't have time to consider our marriage. I accept it. Then you should give me a time frame that when we will marry. But you still don't tell me anything. Please, just tell me what you are thinking about.Okay?"
I looked at her for few seconds. I felt exhausted mentally for not spitting out those words.
I blurted, "Alright. I’ll tell you the truth. You don't believe in Jesus. And I want to marry a person who has the same faith with me. This is what I am thinking about."
She followed with a voice that sounded calm and helpless, "So you wish I can be a believer. But did you help me? No, you didn't. I even don't know who is Jesus. You tell me how come I believe something about which I know nothing?" Then she turned back and rushed into the bedroom.
I bent my head down. I realized I have been wrong. We have known each other for more than 2 years, and I never talked to her about Jesus Christ. I only selfishly wished she could become a believer.
A few minutes later, I walked into the bedroom. She sat on the bed with her back toward me.
I asked, "Hey, You Okay?"
No answer.
I continued, “I know it's my bad. I shouldn't always block you out of my mind. How about we read the bible together every night? I promise I will do it with you every day, no matter how busy I am."
She turned back and said, "Okay. You want to start from tonight?"
"Sure! Give me your phone."
"Why?"
"Let me download the bible for you."
"I have it. Actually I have read some of it. The other day, I read about the Ark. So we can start from there."
Then she walked out. I paused there for a little bit.
I can't believe what happened just now. I was extremely surprised by how fast God responded to my prayer. Not only responding to my prayer, also He settled another problem for me. He knew I was struggling with my fiancee about the marriage, which I never prayed about.
I walked out with a faint smile on my face. I took out my bible from the straw of desk and sat on the floor. Then we started to read from Genesis. She read 10 verses. Then I followed her with another 10 verses.
Every night we read in turns for 30 minutes. Whenever she doesn't understand the verses, I explain to her. Most times, I don't understand either. Then we ask for the help from Holy Spirit and look up the reference materials.
This paper is secret to my fiancee. She still doesn't know what happened between me and God on that night. I envision someday she will be baptized. I want to tell her all of this at her baptism. What blessing it is for both of us!