Faith Story by Eva Chong
I was born into a Christian family, but with traditionally-minded Chinese parents who believed that boys were more precious. My parents, especially my father, raised me strictly. He had a very bad temper, and from a young age – even as early as kindergarten – I was often subjected to his violent outbursts. Although my father loved me, he never expressed it in words. Instead, I recognized his care through his actions, even if they were sometimes hard to understand. Unfortunately, there were also times when he couldn’t control his temper, though I now understand that his own childhood was similar; my grandfather also raised him with violence.
As I entered my teenage years, the seeds of anger and unforgiveness slowly took root in my heart. For many years, I didn’t speak to my father, and I avoided being in the same space because I couldn’t bear to see his face. Even though I knew that God was present in my life and I had witnessed many miracles, I still didn’t feel any love in my heart. I didn’t know what love truly was.
When I was 15, I had a profound experience with the Holy Spirit during a youth camp. It was there that I received the gift of speaking in tongues, and for the first time, my heart opened up to my Heavenly Father. I felt a deep sense of completeness and warmth wash over me, and it was then that the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, revealing that to truly serve God, I first needed to love my biological father.
I began to learn how to heal, let go of the past, and forgive him. It wasn’t a quick process; it required time and patience. Then, one day after a particularly intense quarrel with my dad, I finally voiced all the pain and unforgivable memories I had carried for years. To my surprise, my dad responded by saying, “I know I’ve made many mistakes in the past. I regret how I treated you. I’m sorry, please forgive me. I love you.” We both cried that night, letting out years of pent-up emotions.
After that, we were silent for a few weeks and didn’t speak much, but the Holy Spirit continued to work within us. Gradually, I felt the hate and hurt fade away, and I began to love my father deeply. We eventually became the best of friends, almost like a couple going out on dates, shopping, and having endless conversations. We could talk from night until sunrise and then go out for breakfast. He became my most trusted friend.
One Father’s Day, I decided to surprise him by secretly arranging to share my testimony at his church. I pretended that I was simply going to visit his church with him that day. When we arrived and the service began, the host announced that I would be sharing a testimony. My dad was shocked as he watched me walk up to the stage. I shared the story of how God worked in our lives to restore our relationship. In front of all the church members, I told my dad that I had nothing material to offer for Father’s Day, but I wanted him to know just how much I loved him. He was deeply touched and moved to tears that day.
After that day, my relationship with my dad grew even closer. I found myself missing him every second, every hour, whenever I didn’t talk to him or see him. He became my whole world, and I felt like I couldn’t live without him. He would often tell me, “As long as I’m still breathing, I’ll protect you no matter what.”
On December 28, 2017, my father suddenly had a stroke and collapsed at home. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, where he fell into a coma. On the 30th, he stopped breathing, and his heart could only function with the help of machines. I held my father’s hand, praying and worshipping beside him, hoping for a miracle – that he would wake up and be okay. As I prayed, a voice whispered in my heart, “I will be your Heavenly Father.” I cried deeply beside my father, touched by the Holy Spirit as His love and peace filled me. The next day, on the morning of the 31st, the ICU doctor gathered my family and I to announce that my father had officially passed away.
During my father’s funeral, I felt a sense of peace within me. My heart was hurting, but I knew that he was already with my Heavenly Father, watching over me from heaven.
After my dad went to heaven, my Heavenly Father continued to work in my life, filling me with His love and peace to this day. I faithfully serve Him because He has been so good to me. It’s important to embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, letting go of what we shouldn’t hold on to before it’s too late and we face regret.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Eva Chong