"…..He learned obedience from what he suffered." (Hebrews 5:8)

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

I was converted to a Christian in 1985 and baptized in 1986. I have lived in this house for over 10 years and am the neighbor to a 50-year-old woman with mental disorder. We live on the first, mezzanine, and third floors while this woman mental patient resides in the courtyard. She was small-minded and kept on yelling at people, throwing things and making a scene. I thought: the woman had mental problems, but her husband should be a person of reason. However, the husband was equally stubborn and quarreled with us all the time. As we shared the same kitchen, we often bumped into each other on the corridor to the kitchen and from the first to the second and third floors. Sometimes, she would make up stories to accuse us, and I would fight back. This was the "old me" at work. I only saw other people's mistakes and did not look inside at my own faults. The Bible tells us that Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and wandered around in the desert for 40 years. Before they entered Canaan, they had to defeat the seven nations on the land of Canaan. From the spiritual perspective, we also have in our heart seven nations (pride, jealousy, hatred, calculation, refusal to forgive, etc.). We have to stand firm in the Lord to conquer them before our spiritual life can grow further.

While those who believe in Jesus can receive salvation, not everyone is able to lead a new life. Take the seed as an example. It is only when it dies and is buried underground can a new life begin. I listened to the Word, but the old me inside did not die, nor had I repented for all my sins. As such, Jesus' pleasing odor would not be unleashed. When the woman and I fought against each other, I did not look into my real self. We had quarrels, big and small, all the time, and the situation persisted for close to 10 years.

She often poured water over our gas stove and would just not allow you to cook. Sometimes, when we were still in bed in the morning, she would pile up tiles and bricks to block our doors. In the evening of one Mid Autumn Festival, upon our return from a worship gathering, we found that our bed was soaked in water. What happened? When we looked up, we saw water dripping down from the ceiling, probably because someone poured water down from the cracks at the bottom of the door on the mezzanine floor. She was just like that. She would not allow you a minute of peace.

With a mental patient as a neighbor, life was difficult and all our neighbors knew about it. One day, the Holy Spirit enlightened me. I knelt down before God and cried out, "Jesus, you came into this world, oppressed by the sinners, humiliated and afflicted, and was nailed on the cross. You did not commit any sins, yet you never argued with God and were all-obedient to His will. Now, you are asking us to carry our cross to follow you. And you promised that your burden is light and your yoke is easy." After all, God did not request us to be nailed to the cross. God loves me and asked me to carry a cross just suited to and bearable for me. God deliberately gave me this test of patience for me to learn a lesson. If I could overcome the difficulties with the help of the precious blood of our Lord, I could receive God's grace and mercy. Otherwise, I would be captivated by Satan. I cried and prayed to the Lord, "Jesus my Lord, my strength is weak. When you carried the cross, you did not say you could not carry it. Who am I to say that I cannot carry my cross? I have to learn to be obedient, because you said that you have to be obedient in the world." I learn this lesson: it is easy to believe in Jesus, but it is not easy to lead a life of victory. Now the cross is put in front of me. Shall I carry it or not?

Thanks to the Lord, with the empowerment and strength from the Lord, I began that day singing from my heart songs of praise to the Lord. She scolded me. I did not retort. Instead, I sang songs of praise. This obedient life lasted two years, but Satan did not give up its work. Once, when I returned after a devotional meeting, she placed a chair near our door and sat down to yell at me. I could not chase her away or close the door. What should I do? I began singing songs of praise. The more I sang, the more I rejoiced and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she picked up the chair and walked away. The situation was the same every time when I returned from a devotional meeting. I did not know when I could get out of this difficulty, but believed that God had His plans, and I should just be obedient. In those times, I would meditate upon the words of God and prayed for her, and asked in the name of Jesus to bind the Satan spirit in her. I told my husband, "It is not that she is not a good person, she is just possessed by Satan. Not only does she suffer, but her family suffers a great deal too."

The situation improved a lot after more than a year. She hardly scolded anyone and did not pick on us. Yet, she turned her target to her family members and the family was thrown in turmoil. I persisted in praying for her and her family and asked for the precious blood of the Lord to protect every corner of the house and send angels to guard us. I was under the firm belief that without God's permission, not even a single hair would perish. Another year passed and I got employed. There were fewer chances of meeting her. When I met her during holidays, she would still scold me. I did not say a word, but nevertheless felt agitated inside. At such times, I would fall on my knees and asked God to strengthen me. I believed that if we loved God, were obedient and would take the path of the cross, all the difficulties would be overcome. God has own His own gracious will.

No pain, no gain. Only when we have experienced difficulties would be able to understand the grace of the Lord. Afterwards, when she walked past me or I walked past her, I would say, "Let the precious blood of Jesus triumph!" Then, nothing would happen. When she started yelling again, I would say, "Let the precious blood of the Lord triumph! In the name of Jesus, bind Satan!" God was amazing – when she opened her mouth, she just became speechless. I learned that everything was in God's hands.

Our back door was in the kitchen. For safety sake, an iron door was built. One day, my husband was cooking in the kitchen. She came and opened the gas stove. She put some oil in the pan and walked away. Smoke then came out of the pan. My husband dared not shut the gas for her, since if one touched her belongings, she would make a scene and do horrible things. Then she came back and gave a big scold to my husband, alleging that it was him who moved her gas, leading to the burning oil. In actual fact, the stove had been lit by a small flame all along and smoke was generated just because the oil had been in the pan for too long. My husband kept silent and brought back his own cooked dish. Then, she used her chopper to strike hard on and damage our new iron gate. We did not argue with her directly, but reported the case to the police. We also asked the residents' committee to help resolve the matter. In the eyes of God, this damage of the door was an act done by Satan who hated God's children and failed to win them to its side. (This was the last time that it was done.) Satan would be overjoyed if you jumped up and quarreled with her. But the spirit of the Lord reminded us not to deal with it directly but rather in a wise way. She had once said, "You sing and sing and you terrify me." The more I sang songs of praise, the more joyful I was, as if I was way up in the clouds. However, she felt frightened every time I sang. I experienced God's faithfulness. He listened to our prayers and was with us all the time. He gave us help in times of our need.

The sun has risen and the curtains should no longer be closed. They must be opened and sunlight must shine into the room. The curtains of your heart should also be opened so that the sun of righteousness can shine into your heart. God is determined to love us, but if we close our heart, we cannot receive God's grace. From the Heaven above, God will be so anxious and sad for us. God is with us and walks with us. We must interact with and respond to Him. We must not seek God only when there are difficulties, and behave like the non-believers when our life is easy. God is our father in Heaven and He hopes that His children will talk to Him heart-to-heart. As His children, we must always share our thoughts with God, stay close to Him and tell Him our dreams and desires. God knows very much how much we can shoulder. If we can bear only 50kg, He might give you a load of 53kg. He lets you shoulder more so that you can experience more of His love.