“ FAITHFUL IS HE WHO CALLS YOU ...”
1 Thessalonians 5:24
The single most significant influence in your life that will determine who you are and what you become is your heart ' s revelation of who God is . Adam and Eve simply got a wrong answer to the question , ‘ What is God like ?’ All the evil , brokenness and pain we see around us today are the fruits of answering that question wrongly .
A god born in the shadows of a deceitful heart will never bear much likeness to the majestic God who gave up His Son for us . We naturally take the image of humanity and project it unto God and end up with a god who is not worthy of all that we value and love .
You will face many challenges in life . This is one of the few certainties we can count on . The real issue in the midst of it all is , will you allow life to expose what is in your heart ? Life does not cause what is in your heart , it only reveals it .
Take what life exposes in you and use it to turn over the soil in your heart , remove the weeds and rocks and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the depths of God ’ s heart for you and the world around you . The only real certainty in an uncertain world is that God will be faithful to walk with you through it all . He will never leave you nor forsake you . You can trust Him .
— Matt Rawlins
LESSONS WELL-LEARNT AND SHARED
In 2016 , after spending 13 years in Indonesia , my wife , Susie and I , sensed that God was sending us to Canada to spend more time with Susie ’ s aging mother , be closer to our adult daughter Chelsea , and treat Susie ’ s severe insomnia . Susie promptly returned to Canada but I had to remain in Bali for 2 more years before joining her in 2018 .
In April 2020 , Susie ’ s mother passed away . In her final years , we encountered God in such rich and meaningful ways through her life . She was such a grateful person in the midst of suffering — courageously vulnerable in her helplessness and deeply prayerful in her belief in God ’ s presence . In the weeks leading to her passing , Chelsea came alongside us to help care for her , and God used that time to draw us closer . The morning after Susie said goodbye to her mother , God spoke to her , “ I am taking your mum home . Be at peace . You are to rest and to sleep .” The week after , Susie slept well , 5 out of 7 days . That ’ s a breakthrough .
In the past 5 years , I have learnt that being steered by God demands a willingness to hear and obey , as circumstances do not determine the word of the Lord . I had to exercise patience and perseverance . When things do not go our way , it is not necessarily wrong . I believed in God ’ s faithfulness to show me the way one step at a time . He is always there . I had to surrender my will and preferences , and let God decide the outcomes . He really knows better . And I learnt that the journey is as important as the end . So learn the lessons well , and share it .
— Alan Lim