In the past I was always busy with making money. As for believing in God, I was being perfunctory about going to church for worshiping. Gradually, my heart strayed further and further away from God, but God’s love has not left me. When I faced death threats, God reached out His saving hands to me. Only at the brink of death did I have a rude awakening and truly feel that God’s authority and power are everywhere and at all times.

In the noon of July 13th, 2017, I was giving my dog a shower at a riverside. When I was throwing my dog into the river, because I used too much strength, I was being pulled into the ten meters deep river. Instantly, I was soaked by the ice cold river, I panicked very much. I did not know how to swim, so I tried my utmost to struggle to the shore. However, the slope was covered with moss as thick as ten centimeters. I couldn’t even stable myself on feet, it was as slippery as stepping on oil. I looked around and there was no one there. At that time, I recalled the scene of a 13-year-old girl who was drowned here. I was panicked and scared, and my body was also slowly sinking. I thought: The river is flowing so rapidly, I must be dead.

At this very moment, God came into my mind, so I quickly cried out to God to save me. Afterward, a miracle happened literally as I was going to be submerged by the river. I felt there was someone below supporting me. Then all of a sudden, I came out of the water and my body was floating on the water like an airbag. I was amazed. I knew God must have heard my prayer and I thanked God repeatedly.

At this moment my hands touched the slope filled with moss, then I worried again: What if there’s nothing for me to hold onto, then how am I able to get to the shore with these thick and slippery moss? However, I recalled God’s amazing deeds just now, so I thought I should have faith that everything is in God’s hands. Immediately I had faith in God again, so I prayed to God: “O God! I know it’s Your hands that supported and saved me from drowning just now, may You confer grace on me and save me again, but no matter what happens, I will still thank and praise You!” After praying, I was still floating with my hands scrabbling the mossy slope, hoping to find something I can hold onto. Then, a miracle happened again: I was able to find a small hole on the slope, which can only fit a finger. I put my right hand’s middle finger into the small hole and by the traction I was managed to step on the moss again. Surprisingly, this time I did not feel like I was stepping on the slippery moss but like on the beach. I slowly climbed to the shore and breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at the turbulent Baima river, and thinking the situation just now, I still felt so scared, my heart pounded and tears of gratitude streamed down my face. If not for God’s wondrous protection, I would have been long gone. I genuinely experienced what the Bible says: “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalms 91:2). I truly felt the authority and power of God’s words, which were truly proved on my body. Without doubt, God is my refuge and assistance whenever I need. When I was drowning, in danger, it was God’s love that saved me from the brink of death and gave me a second life.

After escaping from death, I realized how weak and incompetent I am in front of disasters and dangers. I can’t control my own destiny, nor my death. Money is not our reliance and also can’t save my life, but only God is our only reliance and aid. I truly experienced and understood what the Bible says: “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

Afterward, I recalled how that little girl was drowned: She was playing with her peers at the river shore and she slipped into the river carelessly. Other kids tried to save her using wooden sticks, but the river is too steep and deep, the slope was also filled with moss so that they couldn’t stable themselves on feet. The kids tried their utmost to pull the little girl to the shore but to no avail. They could only watch her sink into the river. Thinking again, I’m already over 50 years old and do not know how to swim, but I was able to climb to the shore miraculously without any reliance or anyone’s help. It was because God reached out His saving hands to me, protected me and turned peril into safety. These are all God’s love and salvation. This extraordinary experience is definitely the most valuable asset in my life.