Enlightenment

Rejoicing Together

While attending a lecture on language acquisition, I came across an insight that struck a deeper chord. Many people find learning a foreign language burdensome. Difficult pronunciations, complex grammar, and unfamiliar cultural nuances often become stumbling blocks that lead learners to give up. In such moments, the attitude of those around them becomes crucial. Rather than pointing out mistakes or lamenting how hard the process must be, it is far better to refrain from anxious comments. Such words only amplify the learner’s inner doubts and tempt them to quit. What truly helps is reminding them of the joy that awaits beyond the hurdles—offering encouragement and courage, not concern. It reminded me of our journey of faith. The Spirit himself testifies…

Kim Hye-bin From Yongin, Korea

God’s New Year Gift

A few years ago, I had the joy of leading a coworker into the arms of God. While we worked together, he attended worship services. But after he changed jobs and later enlisted in the military, we lost contact. Then, just a few days into the new year, a message from him appeared on my phone. He told me he had completed his military service, and asked what time Sabbath service began. My heart leaped. I replied without hesitation, and that very Sabbath, we worshiped together to welcome the new year. Over lunch after the service, he shared what had moved him to reach out. Life in the military had been difficult, he said, but whenever things grew hard, he…

Lee Yeong-jik From Daegu, Korea

The Power of a Flower Letter

With the arrival of the New Year, I sent Flower Letters to my relatives and friends—those I rarely had the chance to see in person due to work. In each handwritten note, I offered warm greetings and heartfelt wishes that they might be richly blessed by God in the year ahead.
 The first reply came from my cousin and his wife. We had always kept our distance, perhaps due to the age gap or the reserved nature of our relationship, speaking only when necessary. But to my surprise, my cousin called me first. “Thank you for the touching letter,” he said, his voice carrying an unexpected warmth. His wife and my friends also expressed their gratitude, and even set the…

Ahn Hee-yeon From Seoul, Korea

God Who Helps the Weak

“Will I be able to do this?” That question echoed in my heart every time I stood on the threshold of sharing the gospel. I longed to do well, yet even before I began, fear would grip me and I found myself paralyzed by a deep sense of inadequacy. Frustrated and seeking comfort, I reached for the Bible—turning its pages without a plan, only a desperate heart. Then my eyes landed on a passage that stirred my soul: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too…

No Hee-jin From Seoul, Korea

The Absence of a Mom

On the eve of the Lunar New Year holiday, I was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital due to a sudden illness. Had it not been for the holiday, I could not have brought myself to leave, knowing my young daughter would have been home alone. But with my husband off work, I felt reassured. He told me not to worry about anything at home, and I convinced myself that this hospital stay might be a kind of heaven-sent vacation.
 That illusion shattered within a day. At night, nurses came and went, checking my blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, and changing my IV drip—waking me again and again. During the day, another patient in the same room kept the television blaring…

Kim Hyeon-im from Suncheon, Korea

My Son’s Way of Saying, “I Love You”

One day, out of the blue, my son announced that he wanted to give me an allowance. “Really? It’s not even my birthday.” I couldn’t help but laugh—what money does an elementary schooler have to offer as a gift? “How much are we talking?” He said he’d give me a thousand won (about one U.S. dollar). Not in cash, though—he wanted to transfer it from his allowance account into mine. Seeing an opportunity to teach him how to send money via bank transfer, I gave him my account number. A few minutes later, a notification popped up. As I glanced at the transfer details, my heart swelled, and tears pricked my eyes. The sender’s name read: Mom, I love you.
…

Yu Seung-hee From Busan, Korea

Why Mother Is Waiting

“Mommy waited a while until you were born.” This is something I have often heard from my mom since I was young. She said that after getting married, she had hoped to have a child quickly, but contrary to her expectations, she had to wait a long time before she conceived me. Because of that, many people around her celebrated the news, and when she was heavily pregnant, she proudly stuck out her belly even more, wanting to show it off. However, as the main character of this often-repeated story, I never felt particularly moved by it. After all, it was my mom’s feelings, not mine. Sometimes, I couldn’t understand why she kept telling the same story over and over.…

Jo Seong-ye From Cuiabá, Brazil

Then I’ll Just Always Put It Nicely

A young sister had just joined the student group—a first-year middle schooler full of bright, radiant energy. As usual, we were casually exchanging messages when I sent a playful remark: “My mental age is pretty low. If we’re going by that, yours might actually be higher than mine. To put it nicely, it means I’m pure . . . but to put it bluntly, maybe just a little foolish.”
 Soon after, her reply popped up on my screen: “Then I’ll always put it nicely.” That simple response stayed with me. Through her gentle and optimistic way of seeing things—choosing to focus on the good rather than the flaw—I was reminded of the importance of looking at others beautifully, and the…

Bae Su-jin From Cheongju, Korea

To Prosper in All Things and Be in Good Health

I didn’t understand much about the Bible at first, but one thing I was sure of: I needed to keep the Passover. With that conviction alone, I received the blessing of a new life immediately. At the time, I wasn’t earnestly seeking God, nor was I particularly drawn to the Bible, so my spiritual understanding was slow to unfold. I often found myself admiring those whose faith seemed steady and deep. Perhaps that’s why, when the truth—that our God the Father and Mother truly exist—finally reached my heart, I was overcome with joy. I didn’t know what to do with the feeling; it was so immense, so pure. In that moment, one verse caught my eye: Dear friend, I pray…

Kim Eun-yeong From Incheon, Korea

I Didn’t Know Before I Had a Child of My Own

It was only after giving birth that I truly understood what people meant when they said, “The baby is easiest when still in the womb.” In the final days of pregnancy, even sleeping or stepping outside felt burdensome. I longed for the birth to come quickly. Yet, as if unaware of my urgency, my baby arrived ten days past the due date. The sweetness of meeting my child was soon followed by the intensity of reality. Once I left the postpartum center and began caring for my baby at home, I met motherhood in its rawest form. Comfort became a luxury as I tried to soothe her cries and feed her every few hours. It was a life no longer…

Kim Eun-jin From Ansan, Korea

Why the Plant Came Back to Life

A member of Zion once gave me a small potted plant as a gift. To be honest, I had never been successful at keeping plants alive. Every time I tried, they wilted too quickly, leaving me disheartened. Sure enough, even though I followed the instructions carefully—watering it at the right times and in the right amounts—the plant soon began to droop. “I can’t do this. I must not have a knack for plants,” I sighed to myself. Some time later, my mom offered me a few plants she had repotted. When I hesitated, she reassured me, saying, “These ones grow well even if you leave them alone. You won’t need to fuss over them.” Trusting her words, I placed the…

Han Hee-ok From Suwon, Korea

The Power of Gratitude

I once watched a documentary called The Power of Gratitude. The man featured in the documentary, a father of two, was constantly depressed and heavily reliant on alcohol. The turning point in his life came when he began keeping a gratitude journal. As he started writing down the things he was thankful for, he quit drinking. Day by day, he shared his gratitude with his children, and their home became filled with harmony. The biggest change was in his expression—he now smiled brightly and joyfully. People around him praised him, saying, “I want to live a life like yours,” as they watched him find joy in even the smallest things. The man shared the secret to his transformation: “Actually, nothing…

Park Yun-ju from Melbourne, Australia

Three Days to See

Helen Keller was a person who could neither hear, see, nor speak. However, with the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, who cared for her with love and devotion, Helen displayed extraordinary determination, eventually learning to read books in braille and to express herself. In her writing “Three Days to See,” she wrote: “On the first day, I should want to see the people whose kindness and gentleness have made my life worth living. On the second day, I should arise with the dawn and see the thrilling miracle by which night is transformed into day. On the third day, I should spend in the workaday world, amid the haunts of men going about the business of life. If I…

Kim Jin From Bucheon, Korea

Labor That Is Not in Vain

It feels truly good when someone recognizes my efforts. Perhaps that’s why I find great comfort in the words that say no labor in God is ever in vain. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Co 15:58 Even the quietest service at church or the unseen sacrifices made for our brothers and sisters are not overlooked by God. There is no need to feel discouraged if others fail to notice, for God sees every detail, even the smallest act of love. Rather than swaying under the weight of others’ approval…

Park Se-yeong From Busan, Korea

The Heart of a Farmer

I used to think that farming would be too demanding for my husband, considering his physical condition. But recently, after we started a weekend farm, I discovered a new side of him. Having found joy in farming, he now goes to the farm faithfully every weekend even when he is not feeling well. Just seeing the seeds sprout and grow vigorously seems to give him energy, and whenever he steps onto the farm, he lights up like a child. When he brings home the harvest, he even lifts his shoulders with pride. “Look at this. Isn’t it beautiful?” One day, my husband proudly showed me the air yam (aerial yam). While regular yams grow underground, the air yam is a…

Jeong Yeon-nam From Namyangju, Korea

God’s Call Are Irrevocable

In the midst of this rapidly unfolding gospel work, I often found myself overwhelmed with guilt, feeling as though I had contributed nothing. A quiet fear crept in: What if God regretted calling me to this path of salvation? That doubt weighed heavily, making it harder for me to take initiative or embrace new challenges. And then I came across this Bible verse: For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Ro 11:29 God’s choices are irrevocable. Yet my hesitation—my constant worry: Can I really fulfill this gospel mission?—was nothing less than a failure to trust the One who had called me. Now I see more clearly. To doubt myself is one thing, but to doubt the God who equips…

Lee U-rim From Guayaquil, Ecuador

The Golden Rule of Human Relationships

I reflected on Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Mt 7:12 There is no one who dislikes being treated well. However, there is a principle that must be followed in order to be treated well: If you wish to be respected, loved, praised, understood, comforted, and served by others, you must also respect, love, praise, understand, comfort, and serve them. Conversely, if you do not wish to be criticized or hated by others, you must likewise refrain from criticizing or hating them. In the end, treating others as you would want to be treated is…

Jo Mun-gyeong From Seoul, Korea

A Letter From Father

I enjoy writing letters by hand. I often write and give letters to Zion family members as well. In this digital age, where a short birthday greeting can be sent with just a few taps on a mobile keyboard, there is a reason I choose the “inconvenience” of handwriting. When I carefully press each word onto paper, I am able to think solely and deeply about the person who will receive it. I believe that handwritten letters are one of the purest ways to express a true heart. One day, as I was writing letters while picturing the faces of the sisters, I suddenly thought of Heavenly Father, who wrote countless love letters to me over the span of decades.…

Seo Yeong-im From Busan, Korea

Repentance

At the close of each day, I often write a letter to God—a quiet prayer wrapped in words. One evening, as I sat down to write as usual, I suddenly grew curious about what I had written in the past. I opened the file where my old letters were saved and began to read. As I scrolled through them, long-forgotten emotions came rushing back. Some letters made me smile; others brought a sting to my eyes. But as I kept reading, something else stood out—many of the letters sounded remarkably similar. Even the confessions I had written years ago were nearly identical to those I had penned recently. It embarrassed me to see how I had been making the same…

Lee Jae-uk from Pyeongtaek, Korea

Like Mother

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Pe 4:7–8 While reading the verse about how loving deeply can cover a multitude of sins, I was reminded of one of the Teachings of Mother: “As the sea receives all the dirt and purifies it, we should have a broad and beautiful heart to embrace the faults of our brothers and sisters.” Teaching of Mother No. 9 A heart like the sea is one that embraces even the shortcomings of our brothers and sisters. Such a heart brings about perfect love. The real challenge, however,…

Yu Ji-ho From Gwangju, Gyeonggi, Korea