NOTE: Sewon Jang is MPC’s International Scholar working toward completion of his PhD degree (Liturgical Studies) at the Graduate Theological Union. Below is a letter from Sewon to all of us reporting on recent events in the life of his family.
— Art Paull and Susan ten Bosch Paull, International Scholar Team
Dear MPC Family,
This is Rev. Sewon Jang, a recipient of the MPC International Scholarship. How have you all been? My wife, Esther, and our children, Sophia and Joseph, and I have been doing well at the Berkeley Presbyterian Mission Homes (BPMH).
Last summer in Korea Joseph had open heart surgery to fill several holes. We had been waiting for the holes to fill up naturally, as the doctor suggested, since Joseph was born in 2013. While waiting, Sophia often asked, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers for Joseph? Doesn’t God love me? “My response to Sophia was, “God knows what’s best for Joseph, so He will answer your prayers and show His faithfulness in His way to you.”
Last spring the doctor told us, “It seems impossible for the holes to fill up by themselves. He needs surgery.” Eventually, we decided to have the surgery for Joseph in Korea because many Korean doctors have had more experience with these cases. Thanks to your prayers the operation was successful, and the doctor said, “No more operations needed”! We, especially Sophia, realize that God is faithful and will provide exactly what we need for these very hard things. In a word, “God is love” (1 John 4), the highest and most profound form of love that we need.
When counseling church members who suffer from anxiety or depression, I often hear them ask, “Does God love me”? I frequently take them to my favorite passage in the Bible: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). I love this verse because it explains why we can cast our anxiety on God — because He loves us. Imagine that! God, the creator of everything that exists, actually loves you and me. Regardless of what we have done in life so far, Jesus encourages and invites each of us to walk with God. We can have fullness in life because Jesus says we can rest in God’s love. In Psalm 63 David prays, “Lord, I want to walk with you all the time. Yes, I have seen your glory in the sanctuary, but I want that all week long.” As the Bible says, when we seek Him we will find Him, calling upon His name, and He will meet us right where we are.
Although today’s headlines deliver stories of scandal, tragedy and war, we, as believers, can be confident when we realize that all we need is God’s unfailing and unconditional love, His abiding love. God loves us not because of who we are or what we’ve done. I don’t know exactly what kind of situation you are facing right now. However, please remember that God knows what’s best for you, so, He will answer your prayers and show His faithfulness to you as He did for us.
From Rev. Sewon Jang and his family