In The Face of Adversity

Written by Zhey Chua |Posted on April 19, 2008 | Comments

I just have to write about this. Please indulge me.
Last night, while Warren was in the middle of a heated exchange with his elder brother, I sat by my husband’s side watching his facial expressions closely, each time I’d see his eyes flicker and dim, albeit only for split seconds, I’d prod him to tell me what had just transpired. I kept on prodding and did not give up, purposefully because I wanted my husband to immediately release the pain by sharing the impact with me. I wanted him to feel that I wanted to share the moment with him, no matter how ugly, because we are one flesh.
More than anything, I wanted to diffuse whatever it is that is threatening to consume him that might result to ungodly acts, at once. I wanted him to stay focused and not lose sight of the Lord in the midst of facing adversity.
I know, it was Warren’s very own “baptism of fire”. By far it has to be the biggest challenge he had to face yet since his restoration. Oh yeah, I would have to say, this is indeed exciting times.
Anyway, that is far beyond the purpose of this post today.
In one of my nudging, Warren read the following text messages sent to him by his brother:
1. “When I die, people will mourn and grieve over me. When you die, people will celebrate because this world was rid of another stupid jerk who doesn’t know the meaning of ethics.”
2. “Your epitaph should read like this: Here lies a stupid jerk who read the bible from cover to cover…”
3. “This is not about religion, it is about ethics. You should at least be considerate…”
4. And more…
The above messages were not written exactly as that, but what each conveyed were one and the same.
The first two items repulsed me. How could a brother say that? How could your own flesh and blood condemn you like that? Was he educated and raised in a society that first and foremost values family ties and kinship only to strike upon it like he would a deck of cards? Is this the family environment that he intends to raise his children in?
He talked about “ethics”; he wanted Warren to be “ethical” by accepting their offer to be godfather to their son, can he say that what he is doing to his brother is even “ethical”, by his own worldly standards? What about ethics before God? Isn’t that far more important?
Now if there is one soul who is really lost, it has to be Warren’s brother. Really. No, really.
I could not disagree with Warren when he replied to his brother’s prophecy about their deaths, Warren agreed with him on that and told him that still, what matters is salvation at the time of their deaths, not how the people will react to their passing, but how their souls will be rewarded.
Vincent answered, “God will be the judge to that, not you!”
And, for once, he is right.
——-

It had to be the night I first prayed so earnestly, ever, in my very young Christian life. Warren and I held hands as we both bowed our heads before the Lord. In all humility and with a deep, foreboding sense of urgency, I prayed:
“God, our Father, hear your children, be merciful to us,
Tonight, we surrender everything to you,
We cannot do this alone,
We need you to carry our crosses, Lord;
Father, please, please we earnestly ask of You,
Be gracious to your children,
We have nowhere else to turn to for strength, just You,
Touch their hearts and their souls
So that they will see and come to You,
Give them repentant hearts, as you have given us,
Lord! We humbly beg you, please be merciful to your lost children,
So that they may be found
God, our Father in Heaven… We humbly pray…
Equip us, prepare us, and make us wiser, humble and meek,
In the face of adversity,
Keep us clothed in the armor of your Spirit,
So that we may carry on in the battleground
And glorify Your Holy Name…
This we ask in the name of Your Holy Son, our Savior and Lord,
Jesus Christ.
Amen.”