F.B. Meyer
We were warned about the spiritual darkness of China while we were in Hong Kong, but nothing could have truly prepared us for what was waiting for us across the border. There was one night in particular, a few days after we arrived at our ministry site, that turned into a very sleepless night. Keep in mind that there are fourteen of us at this ministry site. When the 14 of us woke up the following morning and began asking how each other slept we all realized that in fact no one slept. Not one. Out of fourteen people in different rooms, different apartments, not one person slept. As we gathered together and began discussing it some expressed being tormented by violent nightmares (including myself), others dealt with uneasiness, a mix of hot and cold, sicknesses, and unrest.
About five of the group members woke up around midnight and stayed in prayer until morning. Trying to seek out what was causing the unrest – praying peace over our living environment and getting rid of anything among us that we could have brought in from the outside that was a cultural residence for bad spirits or curses. It became apparent quickly that our neighbors around us put real confidence in spirits very different from our one true God. This shed new light on the little “souvenirs” we picked up at the temples and other sites we visited. Our prayer time turned into an earnest time of seeking protection for our days, our minds, and our nights. A new kind of fear gripped us.
I knew that if I didn’t pray protection over my sleep I would be met with frightening dreams in the late hours – I knew that I was coming into contact dozens of times daily with instruments of idol worship, food that had been blessed to false gods. We were surrounded by it. It was culture, it was all they knew. I could count the number of believers there on one hand. The only truth seekers in town, the only ones who knew the name of Jesus, just one hand.
What a task , to share life with so many – it gripped me with fear. They were so many, and we were so few. To calm my fears, as he seems to always do, God directed me to Psalm 27:
Even though they attack me, I remain confident.
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
The Lord will hold me close.” [v. 3, 14, 10]
And it was amazing how God protected us and showed us His mercy. With His help and even His angels – they surely were surrounding us on more than one occasion.
no evil will conquer you – For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.”
[Ps. 91:9-12]
