Hi, my name is Joyce Lim. My year has been quite an eventful year – a year full of uncertainties – and my walk with God wasn’t great. Though I knew I could trust Him, it was more head knowledge than true faith.
Despite praying and praying I still felt really distant from Him and I couldn’t draw from Him any comfort or peace. I worried a lot, and I felt sad because I wasn’t close to God like before. However, time and time again, God demonstrated His protection and care for me, and He smoothed out every situation (whether I worried about it beforehand or not) and He provided help in times (like really, just in time) of need. Always, I am left with the thought, “Now, why was I so worried about that?”
For instance, I was very, very, very apprehensive about going to foreign place alone and being unable to catch my connecting flight. I thought about all my problems day and night, prayed and asked everyone I saw to pray for me. Still, I wasn’t feeling peaceful about them. Then, God provided His help in the form of two girls I sat with on the plane. We clicked and instantly became friends (we still keep in touch, btw!). Miraculously, the flight arrived early. One of the girls had to wait at the lounge next to mine, so we happily went off together. In the new place that I was attached to, God led me to a friendly girl who helped me settle in. As a result, I could look forward to every work day because there was a familiar face.
Another time, I never thought my car battery would die on me, especially since I serviced it really regularly. But it did, and at 2am of all times. Again, miraculously, it died near a 24-hour restaurant. Thankfully, a girl and her friends approached me and she chased away potential troublemakers. Her guy friends then used their car batteries to try to start my dead battery. They ended up staying with me even till my dad came, making sure that the tow car and everything were arranged. From all these instances, I realised that God is always there for me, whether I am aware of it or not. Be it in the form of my loving family and friends, or even strangers, He protects me in my every moment.
“Giving thanks in every situation” 1 Thess 5:18, and “lifting up everything in prayer to God” Phil 4:6,became very real to me, and I praise God for the affirmation of His love and grace in all the times of weaknesses and doubts that I face.