Two Testimonies of God’s Blessings

It is indeed a season for counting blessings, and giving thanks for the year gone by, as we reminisce the challenges we struggled through and the unexpected journeys witnessing God’s guiding light. Here are two more beautiful stories shared on the first Sunday of 2024 – one by our missionary to Thailand and the other by a young mother – two voices, one chorus of praise!

Chih Chiang, our missionary in Thailand sent a brief video full of thanks for the year 2023! He recounted God’s grace in opening doors to reach Thai students. The seeds of faith were sown, with the encouraging support of three vibrant mission teams who journeyed from Korea, Singapore, and New Zealand. Together, they touched the lives of almost 900 students.

Chih Chiang was also brimming with gratitude to God as he narrated his mother’s miraculous encounter with Jesus on Christmas Day just months after a struggle with illness. Witnessing her rise during the altar call at a Chinese Christmas service, hand raised in acceptance of Jesus into her life, he felt the unwavering support of the church community. He thanked us for being instruments of God’s love in her life, asking us to continue to pray for her spiritual growth.

 Wendy Lim, a young mother, in her thanksgiving, shared about her rollercoaster ride through a year marked by challenges and God’s unwavering presence. The arrival of her son, Elijah, around her birthday after five years of marriage, was God’s perfect birthday gift. Despite pregnancy anxieties and finally having to do a C-section, she acknowledged God’s grace in blessing her with a caring Christian doctor who capably ensured a pain-free delivery, making Elijah’s first cry a moment of pure joy.

Imagine, right there amid her tough postpartum period, God sent her an aunt from Malaysia! Her arrival during her confinement period was truly divine timing. You see, just a year before, the aunt found faith in Christ during a trip to Israel. God touched her heart during that journey, and she blossomed into a dedicated Christian. The aunt’s presence and faith were a beacon of light to Wendy. Each shared scripture, each whispered prayer, reminded Wendy that she wasn’t alone. In that whirlwind of emotions, God’s love and presence, channelled through her dear aunt, became her emotional and spiritual anchor.

Even after the confinement period, God’s presence remained. But then, the demands of motherhood threw Wendy into exhaustion and doubt. Guilt gnawed at her, whispering that she was failing utterly, “not being able to do anything right”. She was close to depression. Tears streamed as she prayed for strength, for forgiveness, for anything to lift the weight crushing her spirit.

Just as despair threatened to drown Wendy, the doorbell rang. At the door stood a sister-in-Christ with a warm breakfast bag. “Morning run,” the sister-in-Christ chirped, “and you popped into my head! Thought I’d bring you breakfast and some company.”

In that small gesture, in the unexpected arrival of a friend at the precise moment, Wendy’s soul cried out. She said in her testimony, “I saw God’s love manifest!” The sister-in-Christ listened to Wendy’s struggles and her tender encouragement and support were a life raft pulling Wendy back towards hope.

Throughout the year, Wendy was surrounded by God’s grace. Friends guided her through pregnancy, others delivered delicious treats, and her church family upheld her in prayer. These acts of kindness, coupled with shared experiences from fellow young mothers, strengthened her and solidified her faith.

Through it all, Wendy emerged with a profound realization: even in the darkest depths, God is our ever-present strength.

She quoted Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Her thanksgiving was not just for God’s blessings, but for the entire community that amplified His love and reminded her that we are never alone.

Conclusion

Wendy’s story is a testament to the resilience of faith, the power of community, and the unwavering love of God, especially during the overwhelming journey of becoming a first-time mother. Her experience encourages others to turn to their faith in Christ and seek support from loved ones, for even amid challenges, God’s presence offers us comfort, strength, and the unwavering promise that we are never truly alone.

Chih Chiang’s story, though vastly different, also speaks of God’s unwavering presence, His grace in guiding us through the unexpected, and the community He builds around us to nurture our growth.

Two thanksgivings, one chorus: God’s love is woven through the threads of our individual journeys, no matter how different they are!