Who better to ask than Kevin and Julia Garratt about the power of prayer.
For 775 days people prayed for their release from Chinese imprisonment.
Nothing changed.
The world watched as Kevin faced isolation, failing health, death threats, and despair.
Where was God?
Kevin and Julia share their answer.
“Prayer is and was our lifeline.”
During those 775 long days we turned to God multiple times a day. He heard our cries and answered every time we called. At times it was a verse, a song, or an overwhelming sense of peace that truly surpassed all understanding.
You Prayed, God Answered
It wasn’t the answer we were hoping for – prison doors to open and to walk free – but God answered with many, many small and wonderful answers as He brought the kingdom of heaven near in so many beautiful and practical ways.
As a result of your persevering prayers, our Father in heaven also answered the silent cries of Chinese prisoners and guards around us, by putting us with them to show and share the hope that we have within us.
Love, Hope and Miracles
The press and others may say our release was due to “discussions” and government diplomacy or that it was PM Trudeau who finally got us out, but even the government officials involved had no warning of the sudden deportation order, and one Canadian government official privately told us, with tears, that our release was a miracle.
Every letter written to the government on our behalf was read. The messages moved up through the government and they were awed and moved by the kindness and love shown. They had never seen so many letters of this kind in any case before and that made a huge difference.
It was God’s sovereign timing, the church acting as it should with persevering prayer and respectful quiet yet intentional letters and emails to the government, that resulted in our safe return to Canada and left many knowing that our God is a God of love, hope and miracles.
Poetic Justice
Julia’s sister Deborah summarizes the events of 2016 in a poetic way.
2016
Prison
Indictment
Monthly family prison visits denied
Deteriorating health
Medical bail denied
So many unknowns
Pain and suffering
Trial
Sentencing
Conviction
God remained faithful
You all remained faithful
Woken at night to pray
Tears
Letters
Poems
Songs
Then, September 2016,
Deportation
Reunion
Celebration
Gratitude
So much still unsaid
Words not available to describe
Please continue to remember the Garratt family in prayer.
Hope That Is Real
“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia.
For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1
APPLICATION: Please share this post as an encouragement to others who are praying for needs and have not yet seen an answer. Please share a comment below and be a part of the conversation. Thank you.
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Inspiring, encouraging and affirming. Our family prayed, especially our 5 year old.
Good to know your family was praying. Thank you for commenting, Aaron.
Thank our father in heaven that you are out of
prison!☺
Hi Bob, how are you doing? Such a great article, very inspiring! Mardie and I are here in Bucharest, Romania, much political turmoil here, many demonstrations and marches against the current government, prayer is the life line, keep up the good work Bob, and thank you, with great regard, Dan.