Questions

What do you do when things look hopeless?
Ever think God doesn’t answer prayers?
Ever feel that you have to fight things by yourself?
Ever get one of those phone calls that put you into a deep despair and feeling helpless?
When that happens what do you do?

Let me share with you my story which I hope will encourage you when times like that come your way. In December 2012, I lost my appetite. I was quickly losing weight and finding myself going from originally 195 pounds to 130 pounds at 5’10." Of course this concerned me because I lost my appetite for even eating my favorite rocky road ice cream.

I decided to call my doctor to see what was going on. I made an appointment and before I knew it they were doing an MRI on my stomach. I didn't feel sick and I didn't look sick so they didn't know what could be wrong. All I wanted was to eat ice cream again. Two days later my doctor called me up saying "Paul I'd like you to come in to see me." Not feeling all that concerned about it I said "well how about next week" and he said "no you need to come in tomorrow." I said OK.

As I walked into his examining room, I saw the image of my stomach on his computer screen. It was obvious to me that there was something seriously wrong with my stomach because half of it looked like someone took a shotgun to it and the other side was nice and smooth. He didn't have to tell me what I had because I knew what it was. I was looking at my stomach with stage four, terminal Cancer. This wasn't good because I already had adult Diabetes and Hepatitis C from paint remover chemicals from refinishing antiques in my early twenties. Then I asked him "doc, how long do I have?" The vague answer he gave me didn't make me feel all that good but it was accurate. He said "Paul, I don't know." And we won't know until after we do about 60 days of tests with the pathologist.

That's when the feeling of despair hit me as I remembered a friend of mine at 41 years old who had the same diagnosis and he lived only 30 days. Of course, one's mind goes into hyperdrive, thinking I'd better get my affairs together. When he told me it was going to be 60 days I was thinking I only had 30 days considering I had the same condition as my friend. So we made arrangement for some check ups and I entered into that 60 day tunnel of tests, inspections, cameras and tubes of blood tests. I remember driving home thinking I’ve got one more month to live. I won't be alive for 60 days to get the final results. Upon arriving at my house, I remembered about my friend the Great Physician.

So being there by myself I got down on my knees in my front room calling upon the Lord. Then I remembered God's promises. I prayed this simple, short prayer. I said "dear Lord, you've never lied. You've never broken any of your promises. And in your Bible you promised to finish the work you started in me. You see, I remembered when I was just eight years old that you told me that someday I would be doing something great for America. Now Lord, I’m not ungrateful about my life of 60 years. I've had a fantastic life. I've done more than most people have done in three lifetimes. Actually Father, if You want, I’m ready to come home now. I understand I have terminal stomach Cancer Father and unless you heal me I won’t be around for you to finish that work you started me. Please heal me.” That was all I said. So I got up off my knees and another verse from the Bible came to mind.

I didn’t know why this verse made sense because that verse said "happy are the feet that bring good news." Why would I think of that verse when my feet weren’t all that happy. What that meant was that I didn’t feel like dancing because, quite frankly, I was scared. It was then that I decided to trust the Lord because there really wasn’t anything else I could do. That was December 12, 2012, with Christmas just around the corner and I thought I don’t want to bum everybody out at Christmas time. So I decided to keep it a secret. I didn’t tell my wife. I didn’t tell my son. I didn’t run to my pastor to be anointed with oil and prayed over. I didn’t tell anybody. I decided that until I knew the results of the tests, I would act as if I was still my normal self.

After all, I’d been raised as a Christian so why would I lose my joy (happy feet) because I’d either be healed or I’d be in heaven. Thirteen days later we were celebrating Christmas and soon after New Year’s. Nobody knew I was sick. I was trusting God and keeping it to myself until the doctor’s results were in. On February 12, 2013, the phone rang and it was my doctor. He proceeded to tell me the test results are in. I quickly asked, “Doc, how long do I have?” Once again he replied “I don’t know. In fact there’s a problem. Actually it’s not a problem.

The truth is this, Paul, every doctor here in Kaiser Hospital where every pathologist, oncologist came to look at your test results in amazement. The fact Paul is we couldn’t find one cancer cell in your body. Not only that, your Hepatitis C is also gone.” I had gotten Hepatitis C due to chemicals in paint remover from restoring antiques in my college years. For sixteen years the doctor had been monitoring my hepatitis. He said they really couldn’t understand why I was cured of cancer and hepatitis. They had no explanation for it. So I quickly responded “well doc I prayed one prayer to God above. He heard me. The Creator of the Universe and the One who made me healed me.” Certainly the medical community today doesn’t want to admit such a thing. They think that they are God and that nobody gets healed from a prayer. I said “well you can’t give me any other explanation can you?” He didn’t know what to say but I knew the truth. Jesus Christ, my Savior, heard my prayer healing me.

Pretty soon it will be eight years since that conversation. I still get tested every six months and I’m still cancer free and no hepatitis. Even better God kept His promise! Today I am doing great work in America. I ran for California US Senate in 2018. And now I’m the campaign advisor for Ellen Lee Zhou, who is running for Mayor of San Francisco. I’m so grateful. Not just for the healing but for God keeping His promise. I learned a lot having gone through this. I could have, back in 2012, felt sorry for myself. I might have told everyone "woe is me, I’m dying." I could’ve let despair take over. I knew that despair happens when we turn our backs on God. But I didn’t do that. I went right to His throne because his Word says “You have not because you ask not.” If I didn’t believe He was my Heavenly Father who loves me and if I didn’t trust Him to ask Him according to his promises, I’d feel today (provided I was alive) that I wouldn’t have been doing my part.

also realized that being a Christian was not about just memorizing verses. Not just about going to church on Sunday. Instead it’s about a relationship with the Creator who loves me and He loves you. According to his Bible He does have responsibilities to his children. And we have responsibilities too. Three hundred sixty-five times in the Bible it says "fear not." We’re told to trust him, not to be worried. And I fully believe that He healed me because I made him a promise. And I believe he healed me for two reasons. Actually three reasons. I asked him to heal me. I reminded myself of His promises. And Jesus knew that I wanted to serve Him and use this testimony to help encourage others to do the same. So how about you? What will you do when you get that phone call? Will you turn your back on God and choose despair? Or will you do as I did go into the throne reminding Him of His promises? Of course God never forgets, He just wants you to show Him when things look hopeless to you that you know what to do. Then keep your joy and prepare to dance once again with happy feet. Paul Taylor

Margaret’s Testimony

How God Supernatural healed my son from near death.

When Samuel , my son was 11, while crossing the street after school, he was hit by a drunk driver who carried no insurance. The impact was so hard that he was thrown 10 feet into the air and when he landed his skull’s middle portion hit the ground. He suffered brain injuries – severe brain stem and frontal lobe damage. He was in coma for about 30 days. On the day of his admission to the hospital, the internist told me that he was not going to live thru the night because he was suffering from severe internal bleeding. His spleen was ruptured; his right femur was broken. He would be lucky if he lived through the night. I heard everything the internist said, but deep down in my spirit, I possess the PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING.
The Lord advised me not to panic. I am with him and you, he said. Of course, my son did not die that night, as the internist had predicted. Somehow, I managed to keep telling myself that the doctors did not have the last word. My God was in control.

But my faith was really challenged when the neurosurgeon told me 15 days into his coma that there was a very good chance that he would never wake up, and that I should go home and not bother coming to visit him every day. After all, said the doctor, it made no difference to him, as he could not see, hear, feel – they pricked him with needle and he did not respond. The bible verses Mark 11:22-24 were bought to my attention:
22 Have faith in God (not in men or in doctors)
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain , be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea: and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have them.
Matthew 17: 20 Jesus replied , “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” ( NIV )

I had a mountain before me in my path—the potential death of my son. But I just needed a very small dose of faith like the mustard seed, which happened to be all I had.

Amazingly, after 30 days, my son opened his eyes.

But the prognosis was still very, very negative. He would be a vegetable for life. He would be in a wheelchair, and require 24/7/365 care.

When he first woke up, he could not see, hear, eat, talk, or move . The physical therapy started with him crawling on the floor. He also needed intensive speech therapy, and occupation therapy. The boy could not even feed himself. It made for a very painful daily experience. And a huge test of my faith. After all, we are governed by our five natural senses and our mentality. But faith is not about our senses our natural mentality. It is about faith in what God can and will do – what God promised to do for those who love Him. It is about faith in the goodness and the supernatural power of God.

Every day was a battle of faith, in my mind and senses. I clung to to God’s words from Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Amazingly, but not surprisingly (for I should not be surprised any longer), he was released from the hospital in February. Three months had passed since his first admission. Soon, he was phased into school.

Subsequently, my son received his BS degree in International Business from USC in three years, and successfully completed two MBAs – one from Jiaotung University in Shanghai and another from Tsinghua , Beijing. He now lives independently in Shanghai.

Praise and thanks be to God. May He have all the glory and honor.

All things are possible to those who believe in God. The key is faith in God. It is not about us—it is about God’s ability…His grace and mercy. May God have all the glory and honor. With God, nothing is impossible. He is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. His love for us is immutable. Above all, He is no distinguisher (respecter of person) between persons. How He has blessed me, He wants to bless each and everyone of us today.

God operates through the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, heal, comfort and enable us, by quietly and subtly prompting us. As we respond to the small inner prompting of the Holy Spirit and step out in faith, we are empowered.

Q. Eever get one of those phone calls that put you into a deep despair and feeling helpless ? When that happens what do you do ?
A.

Receiving distressing news or experiencing a phone call that puts you into deep despair is undoubtedly a challenging and emotionally overwhelming situation. Coping with such moments can vary from person to person, but here are some general suggestions that might help:
Take a Deep Breath: When you first receive distressing news, take a moment to breathe deeply. It can help calm your nervous system and give you a moment of clarity before reacting.
Give Yourself Time: Allow yourself the space and time to process the information. It’s okay to feel a range of emotions, and you don’t have to have everything figured out immediately.
Reach Out for Support: Share your feelings with someone you trust—a friend, family member, or a supportive colleague. Sometimes, expressing your emotions can be a relief, and having someone to lean on can provide comfort.
Disconnect Temporarily: If possible, take a break from social media, work, or other stressors to give yourself a mental and emotional breather. This can help prevent additional stressors from piling up.
Engage in Self-Care: Take care of your well-being by engaging in activities that bring you comfort and peace. This could be a warm bath, a walk, listening to music, or any other self-soothing activity.
Reflect and Journal: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a therapeutic way to process what you’re going through. It can also help you gain clarity on your emotions and thoughts.
Prayer or Meditation: If you’re a person of faith, turning to prayer or meditation can provide a sense of spiritual comfort and guidance during challenging times.
Seek Professional Help: If the distress is overwhelming and persistent, consider reaching out to a mental health professional who can offer support and guidance tailored to your specific situation.
Plan for Action: If the distressing news involves a situation that requires action, create a plan of manageable steps. Breaking down the situation into smaller tasks can make it more approachable.
Remember Resilience: Reflect on past experiences where you faced adversity and overcame challenges. Recognizing your own resilience can provide a sense of hope for the future.
It’s important to note that seeking professional help is a sign of strength, not weakness. If you find that your feelings of despair persist or become overwhelming, don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional who can provide additional support and guidance.

A.

It’s not uncommon for people to go through periods of doubt or questioning when it comes to prayer and their relationship with God. Many individuals, at some point in their lives, may feel as though their prayers aren’t being answered in the way they expected or desired. This can be a challenging and disheartening experience.
If you’re feeling this way, here are a few perspectives to consider:
Different Ways of Answering: Sometimes, it may seem like prayers are not answered because the response comes in a way that wasn’t anticipated. God’s answers may be “yes,” “no,” or “not now,” and they can manifest in various forms, including personal growth, strength, or unexpected solutions to problems.
Trust in God’s Wisdom: Trusting in God’s wisdom can be challenging, especially when facing difficult circumstances. It’s essential to remember that God has a broader perspective and understands what is best for you, even if it may not align with your immediate desires.
Spiritual Growth: Sometimes, the process of waiting or facing challenges can lead to spiritual growth. God may use difficult circumstances to shape your character, strengthen your faith, or prepare you for future opportunities.
Seeking Guidance: If you’re feeling disconnected or unsure about whether your prayers are being heard, consider seeking guidance from a spiritual leader, mentor, or counselor. They can provide support and help you navigate your spiritual journey.
Reflection and Gratitude: Take time to reflect on the ways in which your prayers have been answered, even if they weren’t answered in the way you expected. Expressing gratitude for the blessings in your life can help shift your perspective.
Remember that faith is a journey, and everyone’s experience is unique. It’s okay to have questions, doubts, and moments of uncertainty. Open and honest communication with God, along with seeking support from your faith community or trusted individuals, can be valuable during these times. Ultimately, the relationship with the divine is personal, and finding ways to deepen that connection is a process that evolves over time.

A.

When things seem hopeless, it’s important to remember that there are various strategies and perspectives that can help you cope and find a way forward. Here are some suggestions:
Take a Break: Sometimes stepping back from a situation can provide a new perspective. Take a break, relax, and give yourself time to recharge.
Reach Out for Support: Talk to friends, family, or a mental health professional. Sharing your feelings and concerns with others can provide emotional support and different perspectives.
Break It Down: Break the problem into smaller, more manageable parts. Focus on addressing one aspect at a time, rather than feeling overwhelmed by the entire situation.
Set Realistic Goals: Establish achievable short-term goals. Success in small tasks can build momentum and boost your confidence.
Look for Solutions: Instead of dwelling on the problem, shift your focus to finding solutions. Brainstorm ideas, and consider seeking advice from others who may have faced similar challenges.
Change Your Perspective: Try to view the situation from a different angle. Ask yourself how you might perceive it in a year, or consider how someone else might see it.
Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. Understand that everyone faces challenges, and it’s okay to struggle. Treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a friend.
Explore New Approaches: If your current strategies haven’t worked, consider trying something different. Experiment with new ideas and approaches to find what works best for you.
Focus on What You Can Control: Identify the aspects of the situation that you can control, and concentrate your efforts there. Accept that some things are beyond your control, and try to let go of them.
Seek Professional Help: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, a mental health professional can provide guidance and support. They can offer coping strategies, tools for managing stress, and a safe space to explore your feelings.
Remember that difficult times are a part of life, and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out to people around you or professionals who can assist you.

Margaret Liu Collins