Hudson Taylor-What to Do in times of Trouble

By Mary Vee

Year: January 1876 

Hudson Taylor: age 44

From J. Hudson Taylor's Notes

Photo Courtesy

I am so excited to tell you my news. My doctor cleared me to set sail for China on September 8, 1876. 

After spending months confined to a bed following the accident then the long time learning how to walk again, my heart tells me to jump up and down to celebrate. Maybe I will after a few more months of healing.

Jennie and I decided she should stay in England to care for our children. We'd watched our older children become terribly sick while we lived in China and didn't want to risk loosing another one. I'm going to miss all of them. 

Before I boarded the ship, Jennie refused to let me take my stack of papers. That wise woman knew I would spend long hours working instead of resting. She promised to pack the boxes of work and send them with the next group of missionaries leaving for China. sigh

I really did feel rested by the time the ship docked in Shanghai. My good friend, John McCarthy, met me as I stepped on shore. He made arrangements for us to travel together to  our mission in Zhenjiang.

Unfortunately, the same sickness returned to me within days. I became too ill to travel or visit our missionaries as I had planned. At least I found the strength to write letters to missionaries and to our supporters in England, and complete the necessary paperwork to allow new workers to go into areas of China where people had not heard about God's love. 

I spent long evenings and early morning hours praying to God for the strength to do the needed work. 

One afternoon, George Nichol came to my office. "We've received a number of letters reporting serious rioting in two of our mission stations." He rubbed his face after reporting the troubling news.

I nodded then whistled softly the hymn, "Jesus I am Resting, Resting."

George's eyes widened. He walked closer to me. "How can you whistle when our friends are in so much danger?!"

The poor man still didn't understand the importance of true faith in God. "Do you want me to be anxious and troubled about the situation?" I said softly. "It wouldn't help them and would only make my illness worse. All I need to do is to give the burden to Jesus."

Clearly God would care for His children as He knew best. God loves all of us, and although we may suffer illness or trouble, God will never leave us and will always do what is best.

Praise God for His blessings.

J. Hudson Taylor

Missionary to China--Inland China!

So Very Blessed by God 

Research resources: J. Hudson Taylor, An Autobiography by J. Hudson Taylor; It is Not Death to Die, a new biography of Hudson Taylor by Jim Cromarty; Hudson Taylor Founder, China Inland Mission by Vance Christie; J. Hudson Taylor, A Man in Christ, by Roger Steer, and Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret by Dr.and Mrs. Howard Taylor