Thursday, December 31, 2015
At the close of the the year, Sister Ivy has gone home to be with the Lord. Death is a Christian's joy and sorrow. It marks an earthly separation and a closure. 2 Samuel 1 records David's response to Jonathan's death. It was a mourning, yet without any tenor of despair as David knew he would meet Jonathan once more in heaven. Likewise, there is a hidden joy that I should focus on, a silver lining, to know that she is safe in the arms of the Lord, no longer feeling pain and weakness. Absent in the body, present with the Lord.
2015 has not been an easy year. There were many emotional moments, many spiritual battles, many times I had cried out to the Lord for help. My anxious desire to get a job in January, my elation as I got a job with Accenture in February, and the shock I got when I started work. The next seven months was a crucible where I had to learn how to depend on God, and undoubtedly, I drew closer to Him, both in love and in knowledge. There were plenty of disagreements with friends, cutting so deep emotionally I'd rather be hurt physically. And then there was a profound sense of emotional loneliness that permeated throughout the year, many times bringing me down to the lowest of moods. Yet there are many times God has shown himself so clearly to me throughout the year. Placing brothers and sisters in Christ at work was perhaps the most powerful thing God had wrought. Without them I would have despaired, and despaired easily at that. Truly a brother or sister in Christ is a keeper, and a very strong encourager in life. And then there was my chance to go to almost every single Prayer Meeting on Wednesdays despite having to work till late on every other day. It was no coincidence. And now, despite my very many wants and needs in my life, the Lord has promised that He will never, never, never, never, never leave me (Hebrews 13:5). Five "nevers", a superlative of superlatives, to show God's promise for me.
How should I respond in times of need and despair? How should I rest on the promises of God, knowing that things will come to pass in its right time? How shall I look on the face of the unknown and say, "It is well with my soul"? With simple faith, with simple faith... || posted by Kuan Hui
2015 has not been an easy year. There were many emotional moments, many spiritual battles, many times I had cried out to the Lord for help. My anxious desire to get a job in January, my elation as I got a job with Accenture in February, and the shock I got when I started work. The next seven months was a crucible where I had to learn how to depend on God, and undoubtedly, I drew closer to Him, both in love and in knowledge. There were plenty of disagreements with friends, cutting so deep emotionally I'd rather be hurt physically. And then there was a profound sense of emotional loneliness that permeated throughout the year, many times bringing me down to the lowest of moods. Yet there are many times God has shown himself so clearly to me throughout the year. Placing brothers and sisters in Christ at work was perhaps the most powerful thing God had wrought. Without them I would have despaired, and despaired easily at that. Truly a brother or sister in Christ is a keeper, and a very strong encourager in life. And then there was my chance to go to almost every single Prayer Meeting on Wednesdays despite having to work till late on every other day. It was no coincidence. And now, despite my very many wants and needs in my life, the Lord has promised that He will never, never, never, never, never leave me (Hebrews 13:5). Five "nevers", a superlative of superlatives, to show God's promise for me.
How should I respond in times of need and despair? How should I rest on the promises of God, knowing that things will come to pass in its right time? How shall I look on the face of the unknown and say, "It is well with my soul"? With simple faith, with simple faith... || posted by Kuan Hui
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