Daily Devotion

“Fifty-two years have passed in the blink of an eye. Although there have been trials of war, plagues, and physical decay, every step I take is imbued with the grace of the Lord. I have dedicated my youth and a lifetime of sweat to the Chongzhen Church in South China, but I have no regrets, only boundless gratitude to the Heavenly Father.”

Rudolf Christian Friedrich Lechler · 1899: Farewell message upon leaving China to return to Germany after 52 years of service.

Scripture

Psalm 65:11 You crown the year with your grace; your paths drip with abundance.

Reflection

Missionary Liliqi, after half a century of war and illness, looked back on his life and saw only the "abundance of grace." This deeply moved me. In our daily toil, service, or career, we often magnify the difficulties and losses we face, even feeling resentful and complaining. However, those truly upheld by God know how to look beyond the ordinary to see the eternal. They realize that even on seemingly desolate paths and in tears, God silently accompanies and nourishes them. In His plan, giving is not sacrifice, but grace.