On Dec 4, 2024, a friend A called me. She said she was on vacation with another friend in Cebu, Philippines, and she was being extorted, her life threatened, and her passport detained. A has a gambling addiction, and I’ve lent her money previously. There was a small voice that said “Do not lend to her”. But I didn’t listen to it. She promised to return me the money within a few days. And she kept saying her life is at risk. When I asked why she doesn’t want to ask her husband, she said he wasn’t there with her and he has heart problems, so she doesn’t want to let him know. So, out of kindness, I quickly send her the money to help her. But I told her also, that the money is not mine. It’s my mom’s, she put into my bank account for me to help her pay online bills. Right after giving her the money, I feel no peace at all. I know I have not obeyed God, and so I kept saying sorry to God.
When it was time to pay, she didn’t pay. I found out from another friend that A was actually on vacation with her husband in Cebu. She lied to me! When I asked A about when she will return the money, she kept delaying and delaying. She continued to lie to me every day. Weeks passed, she kept stringing in on with her lies. I got very frustrated and anxious. I asked Olivia for prayers because I felt so angry and betrayed. It’s affecting me so much that even my husband noticed how unhappy I looked.
My feeling for what’s going on hit rock bottom on Dec 20, 2024. I was thinking of ways to let J’s husband and her sister know, to punish A. I asked for prayers from Olivia and Carol to know what God wants me to do. That day, I also received additional year-end bonus from the company I worked for. Even though it’s not much, I feel God’s comfort for me.
Not long after, I felt God showed me the words DEBT CANCELLATION. And the scene of the unmerciful servant seemed to play in my mind (Matt 18:21-35). I started crying and asked, ” God, are you asking me to forgive her debt and all her lies??? After all that A put me through, should I forgive he? Should I cover the money???” God showed me that I became so angry that all I was thinking of was how to take revenge on her by telling her husband and her sister. That night, I did my quiet time. I had been memorizing Isaiah 43. And I reached Isaiah 43: 18-19. I know that God was speaking to me. But my heart still struggling to accept it. So, I kept praying.
Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
On Dec 21 the next day, after the sharing, Olivia shared on the group chat the very same verses! I know then – that is what God wanted me to do. What i heard is correct. I told God I am ready to submit to Him. I will cover all the money so my mom will still have money for bills payment. God showed me how He carried me financially through the years, He will provide for me and I will lack nothing. In fact, I am able to give to others in need.
Olivia gave me the verses to proclaim…and she shared with me testimonies to encourage me.
Proverbs 6:31 NLT
But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole, even if he has to sell everything in his house.
I don’t know how God will restore me or bless me, but after I made the decision not to chase after J for the money, I felt a big heavy burden off my chest. It’s an amazing feeling! I don’t even know how to describe it! I feel lighter and happier. That night, my shoulders felt like there’s muscle ache – as though I’ve been lifting weights. I know it’s because I’ve been carrying the weight for so many weeks. Today, the muscle ache is gone.
Thank you, Olivia and Carol for helping me through this difficult time. Your prayers and support mean sooo much to me! God is soooo good! So, so good! Hallelujah!!!
From Sarah
2024 年 12 月 4 日，朋友 A 打電話給我。她說她和另一個朋友在菲律賓宿霧度假，她被勒索，生命受到威脅，護照也被扣留。A 有賭癮，我之前借過錢給她。有一個小小的聲音說「不要借錢給她」。但我沒有聽進去。她答應在幾天內還錢給我。她一直說她有生命危險。當我問她為什麼不想問她丈夫時，她說她丈夫不在她身邊，而且他有心臟病，所以她不想讓他知道。所以，出於好心，我很快就把錢寄給她，幫助她。但我也告訴她，這些錢不是我的。那是我媽媽的錢，她存到我的銀行帳戶裡，讓我幫她付線上帳單。把錢給她之後，我一點都不平安。我知道我沒有順服神，所以我一直對神說對不起。
到了該付錢的時候，她卻沒有付。我從另一個朋友口中得知，A 其實是和她丈夫在宿霧度假。她騙了我！當我問 A 何時還錢時，她一拖再拖。她每天都繼續騙我。幾個星期過去了，她還是繼續撒謊。我感到非常沮喪和焦慮。我請求 Olivia 為我祈禱，因為我感到非常憤怒和被背叛。這件事對我的影響很大，連我先生都注意到我看起來很不開心。
2024年12月20日，我的心情跌到谷底。我想著如何讓 J 的丈夫和她妹妹知道，懲罰 A。我請 Olivia 和 Carol 為我禱告，讓我知道神要我做什麼。那天，我也收到我工作的公司額外的年終獎金。雖然不多，但我感受到神對我的安慰。
不久之後，我覺得神讓我看到了 DEBT CANCELLATION（取消債務）這幾個字。我的腦海中似乎浮現出不憐憫的僕人的場景（馬太福音 18：21-35）。我開始哭著問：「神啊，你是要我赦免她的債務和所有的謊言嗎？在 A 讓我經歷了那麼多之後，我應該原諒他嗎？我應該償還那筆錢嗎？ 神讓我看到，我變得非常憤怒，我所想的就是如何報復她，告訴她的丈夫和妹妹。那天晚上，我做了靜默時間。我一直在背以賽亞書 43 章。我讀到以賽亞書 43：18-19。我知道神在對我說話。但是我的心仍然掙扎著不願意接受。 所以，我繼續禱告。
以賽亞書 43:18-19
“忘記以前的事，不要沉湎於過去。
你看，我正在行一件新事！
我在曠野開路，在荒地築溪。
我在曠野開闢道路，在荒地開闢溪水。
12 月 21 日的第二天，在分享之後，Olivia 在群聊上分享了同樣的經文！當時我就知道 – 那是神要我做的事。我所聽到的是正確的。我告訴神，我已經準備好順服祂。 我會負擔所有的錢，這樣我媽媽就還有錢付帳單。神讓我看到祂是如何帶領我渡過這些年的經濟難關，祂會供應我，我什麼都不會缺乏。事實上，我有能力給予其他有需要的人。
Olivia 給了我要宣講的經文……她也與我分享見證，鼓勵我。
箴言 6:31 NLT
但如果他被抓到，他必須償還他所偷的七倍，即使他必須變賣家中的一切。
我不知道神會如何恢復我或祝福我，但是當我決定不再追著 J 討錢之後，我覺得胸口卸下了一大堆沉重的負擔。這種感覺很奇妙！我甚至不知道該如何形容！我感覺更輕鬆、更快樂。那天晚上，我的肩膀好像有肌肉酸痛的感覺 – 就好像我一直在舉重一樣。我知道這是因為我已經負重了這麼多個星期。今天，肌肉酸痛的感覺消失了。
謝謝 Olivia 和 Carol 幫我度過這段艱難的時期。你們的禱告和支持對我來說意義重大！神真是太好了！非常非常好！哈利路亞
來自 Sarah