In the past, we, together with others, contracted for a reservoir covering an area of 115 acres. We had been making a living by fishing for many years, and my husband and I went to fish nearly every day. Our income was pleasing, and we lived in luxury. I thought money was not everything, but without it, we could do nothing, so I became a slave to money. In 2003, I accepted God’s work of the last days, but I was still busy making money as before, spending little effort on the truth. It was not until I experienced an escape from death that I altered my goals of pursuit.

One night in the winter of 2011, when I was sleeping deeply at midnight, my husband woke me up and asked me to go to the reservoir for fishing. I got up and saw it was drizzling. It was so dark outside that I could not see my extended hand before my face. Besides, it was especially cold. Then, I said to my husband: “It’s so dark and rainy. Let’s not go tonight in case of losing the direction and being unable to come back.” However, my husband forced me to go, rushing me again and again and also shouting awful things at me. Hearing his abuse, I was so angry that I really wanted to have a quarrel with him. However, I’m a believer in God, so I shouldn’t dishonor God’s name. Then, I went to the reservoir with him.

After reaching the reservoir, we rowed a boat to a place that was 500 meters away from my house and let down the net. Unexpectedly, the net was cast into a shoal of fish, and there were too many fish in the net. While drawing the net, we let a part of fish out, but the boat was still overloaded. For the sake of reducing the boat’s load, my husband said he would get off lest the boat sink. Hearing his words, I thought in my heart: If he gets off, the load for the boat will decrease by over 50 kilograms. So long as I take these fish back, we will earn money. If I want to make money, I must endure some suffering. Then, I carefully rowed the boat back by myself. While going along, I suddenly looked down at the boat, only to find the bow was sinking! Fear swept over me in a moment and I thought: I can’t swim. I will lose my life if I fall into the water. At that time, my husband had been so far from me that he could hardly hear my cry for help. In panic, my right hand tightly grasped an oar. In the blink of an eye, I, as well as the boat sank to the bottom of the water, which increased my fear. My death was approaching, but I didn’t want to die. I struggled randomly, not knowing what to do. I only felt stifled. At this point, I suddenly thought of Almighty God. Then I constantly called upon God in my heart: “Almighty God, please help me! Help me …” During my calling, a miracle happened. The oar my right hand grasped was separated from the boat, and with the help of its floatage, I rose to the surface, and then I gasped for breath. Frightened, I looked around—every way I looked was dark, and no light was in the three villages around the reservoir. It was simply not possible for me to call somebody for help. When I was in helplessness, God’s words led me: “Man’s heart and spirit are held in the hand of God, everything of his life is beheld in the eyes of God. Regardless of whether or not you believe this, any and all things, whether living or dead, will shift, change, renew, and disappear in accordance with God’s thoughts. Such is the way in which God presides over all things” (“God Is the Source of Man’s Life”). Under the guidance of God’s words, I suddenly felt that I had strength in my body, and I thought in my heart: All things, dead and living, are held in God’s hands. Whether I will drown tonight is also in God’s hands. It was so dark around by then that I couldn’t find the direction of going ashore. I struggled desperately in the water, and also constantly called out to God to help me. At this time, I suddenly heard some dogs barking from the shore, and I was pleasantly surprised, knowing that God showed me the direction by allowing the dogs to bark. Then I, with might and main, struggled in the dog’s direction. However, the sweater, wool trousers, and down jacket I wore in winter, and the raincoat, waterproof trousers and galoshes I needed when fishing—all of these weighed me down, so I hadn’t struggled for a long time before my energy was exhausted. I felt my body was sinking again, and I thought in my heart: It is indeed all over. Tonight I really wouldn’t be able to survive, and I will die in this reservoir. At this moment, I thought of God’s words, “The fate of man is controlled by the hands of God. You are incapable of controlling yourself: Despite man always rushing and busying himself on his own behalf, he remains incapable of controlling himself. If you could know your own prospects, if you could control your own fate, would you still be a created being?” (“Restoring the Normal Life of Man and Taking Him to a Wonderful Destination”). I realized: I don’t pursue the truth in normal times, and don’t believe God’s words. I delusionally hope to create a better life by my own hands and control my own fate. Now that death is imminent, yet I can do nothing but be resigned. I have only myself to blame. I was filled with remorse at this moment. With the choky feeling under water, I was completely disheartened and simply waited for death. Just then, I suddenly felt that one of my feet stepped on a hard thing in the bottom of the water. With the help of it, I exerted all my strength to throw myself forward. Then, my other foot stepped on the ground, and I stood up. I saw it was not far from the bank. At that moment, grateful tears welled up in my eyes, and I saw hope of survival. Then, I climbed up to the bank with all my might, and sat down to have a rest. I couldn’t help being overcome with emotion and recalled the alarmingly dangerous scene underwater just now. If it hadn’t been for God’s wonderful salvation, I would have lost my life. I couldn’t swim and I wore so many clothes; however, in the piercing water, not only did I not get cramps but I could struggle out of the water. I was so grateful to God.

After arriving home, I, bursting into tears, knelt down and prayed to God: “Almighty God! During the experience of life and death tonight, I deeply felt that You are right by my side. You brought me back from the edge of death, and led me to go up to the bank. It is You that have given me a second life. I have seen Your almightiness, Your sovereignty, and Your hand of salvation for me. When the death was approaching, I came to know the preciousness of life. I regret that although I believe in You, I only paid attention to making money rather than pursuing the truth. Oh God! The way I walked before is wrong, and I am willing to turn back to You. May You lead me to walk the way of pursuing the truth and the life.” After praying, I saw God’s words say, “When the waters swallow humans whole, I save them from those stagnant waters and give them a chance to live anew. When people lose their confidence to live, I pull them up from the brink of death, granting them the courage to go on so that they can use Me as a foundation for their existence. When people disobey Me, I cause them to know Me from within their disobedience. In light of humanity’s old nature, and in light of My mercy, rather than putting humans to death, I allow them to repent and make a fresh start” (“Chapter 14” of God’s Words to the Entire Universe). In the past, I glanced over God’s words hurriedly, and didn’t know the true meaning of God’s words. Not until today I personally experienced these words of God did I feel that His every word represents His will and shows His concern for us and His admonitions for us humans.

In the following days, my relatives and friends came to visit me one after another. All of them thought it was a wonder that I could survive in that background. However, only I knew clearly in my heart what had happened. Thanks for God’s protection!

Through experiencing, I understood that in the face of death, wealth and fame are without any value, and money can’t buy life. When death approaches, however, no matter how much money we own, it’s all in vain. God is my only reliance. I made up my mind: I won’t work myself to death for money anymore. Instead, I will fulfill my duty as a created being to repay God’s grace of salvation. From now on, I will lay importance on reading God’s words and spreading the gospel to witness God, so that more people can come before God and accept His salvation. Thanks for God’s salvation and blessings! All the glory be to Almighty God!