May 22, 2026
— Rudolf Christian Friedrich Lechler · Source: 1899: Farewell message upon leaving China to return to Germany after 52 years of service.
Psalm 65:11 You crown the year with your grace; your paths drip with abundance.
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.
Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for guiding me every step of the way in my life with love. Grant me the broad spiritual vision of a missionary, so that I may not see the hardships of my circumstances or the decay of my body, but only the promises of Your Word. May You place in my heart that unwavering obedience and gratitude, so that I may willingly pour out my years and sweat in my duties and service. Lord, I believe that in every path I have walked, in every season I have experienced, You will crown the years with grace, causing them to drip with abundant riches. Amen.