DEVOTION / Let God worry!

 Anxious thoughts

 Charles Schulz was a beloved author and cartoonist who created the memorable Charlie Brown cartoons. Still today, his writings stir joy and happiness in the hearts of many people. Who can forget Schroeder at his piano or Charlie Brown shopping for a Christmas tree? How great it must have been for this cartoonist to live every day in the funny fantasy world of Peanuts. But that was far from the truth. The real Charles Schulz suffered from an extreme case of anxiety. He said every morning he woke up in a funeral procession. He even wrote a book titled “My Anxieties Have Anxieties.” He often claimed that his problem with worry was expressed in his characters.

 We all have days when we become anxious about something. Writing a test, playing a solo in front of an audience, seeing the doctor, or going on a big trip can cause stress. That is natural. However, letting worry gain control over our lives is not what God intended for us. He wants us to give him all our worries.

 Martin Luther once said, “Pray, and let God worry.” Carrying worry is like having a huge weight on our shoulders. We must learn to lift that weight off and hand it over to God, saying, “Lord, I have this big problem that has been bothering me. You said I should cast my cares on you? Well, here’s a big one. You handle it!”

 Give God your problems

 Worry demonstrates our weakness of faith. Jesus called it “little faith.” It is a useless and unproductive sign of us relying more on ourselves than on God. Jesus wants us to experience the peace he has given us.

 Whenever you get caught up in worry, remember that God wants you to give him your problems. He will take care of them. First Peter 5:7 reminds us, Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (NLT).  Then you can live your days in happiness. Each morning you can wake up with a smile and say, This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24).

by Reynold R. Kremer

More Devotions by Ren

NEWS / the week of Oct 10 to 16, 2026

NEWS / the week of Oct 10 to 16, 2026

Current news about China and the Chinese people.

NOTE: The news reports below are not in chronological order. Reports from China often reach the US with a time lag, and the views expressed reflect a variety of news sources.

U.S.–China & Global Trade

China Buys 8–10 US Soybean Cargoes in First Deals Since Trump–Xi Summit — Oct 14, 2026

Chinese state-owned firms bought several large shipments of American soybeans this week, the first such purchases since September's summit in Washington. Shipments begin in December, and China has now bought more than half of its 25-million-ton target for the season. (Reuters)

China, EU Agree to Keep Bilateral Trade Ties Stable, Hold Next Meeting in March 2027 — Oct 10, 2026

After two days of talks in Beijing, China and the European Union agreed on 16 points, including an understanding on hybrid vehicle trade, faster rare-earth export licenses for Europe, and exploring tariff reductions. The next round of talks is set for March 2027.

Chinese Premier Stresses High-Quality Development at 140th Canton Fair — Oct 14, 2026

Premier Li Qiang opened the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, which marks its 70th anniversary this year. More than 30,000 companies are exhibiting and about 340,000 overseas buyers are expected. Li said China is willing to import more high-quality products. (Xinhua)

Economy

China's Foreign Trade Maintains Sound Momentum as New Drivers Power Exports — Oct 14, 2026

China's exports rose 29.6% year on year in September (in yuan terms) and imports rose 24.6%. For the first nine months of 2026, total trade grew 18.8% to nearly 40 trillion yuan, according to customs data. (Xinhua)

China Inflation Rate Slightly Below Estimates — Oct 14, 2026

Consumer prices rose 0.9% in September from a year earlier, the highest since June. Higher fuel and travel costs before the Golden Week holiday pushed prices up, while food prices fell for a sixth straight month, led by cheaper pork.

China's FDI Equity Stock Ranks Second Globally: Commerce Ministry — Oct 16, 2026

Foreign direct investment in China reached about $3.98 trillion by the end of 2025, second in the world. More than 461,000 foreign-invested companies are operating, accounting for roughly a third of China's goods trade and over 30 million jobs a year.

Shanghai Housing Market Breaks Records — Oct 14, 2026

Shanghai recorded 1,615 sales of pre-owned homes in a single day, its busiest day of the second half of the year. Holiday-week sales rose 66% from last year, helped by new local measures including trade-in subsidies and mortgage adjustments.

China & the World

China's Fuzhou to Host World Cities Day 2026 — Oct 15, 2026

UN-Habitat announced that Fuzhou, capital of Fujian Province, will host this year's World Cities Day on October 31. The theme, "Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All," will focus on how cities can address housing shortages around the world. (Xinhua)

Society, Culture & Sports

Zheng Qinwen's China Open Win Swamps Her Sponsor's Tea Shops — Oct 13, 2026

Tennis star Zheng Qinwen, 24, became the first Chinese woman to win the China Open, entering as a wildcard after injuries. Her sponsor's buy-one-get-one-free milk tea celebration drew so many orders that its ordering app briefly crashed.

Beijing's Ancient Trees Offer Lasting Lessons From the Past — Oct 16, 2026

Beijing has more than 42,000 trees over 100 years old, including a cypress estimated at 3,500 years. The city has launched 10 walking and cycling routes to see them and plans to protect over 3,000 ancient trees by 2030.

China Deploys Five Teams for Latest Batch of Environmental Inspections — Oct 16, 2026

China's environment ministry sent five national inspection teams to review two government ministries and pollution in caves, sinkholes and valleys across southwest China. The inspections hold local officials accountable under a new environmental code that took effect in August. (Xinhua)