Celestial Diary

Celebrating someone usually means they’ve accomplished something: giving birth, getting a job, fulfilling a dream, etc. As Christians we ought to celebrate everyday because being able to open our eyes in the morning is a testimony in itself. Yet somehow we only celebrate when someone has done good according to our earthly standards.

The past week was a very unusual one; none of my plans worked out as expected. Every single appointment I had was either cancelled or postponed, and normally, this would ruin my mood. Surprisingly, I remained unbothered. It wasn’t a good feeling, but I was impressed with how easily I shook off the disappointment and moved on.

Handling disappointments is one thing I’ve learned over the past few years. I went through a whole process of trusting God and having faith that His plans for me are good. Amidst the disappointment through-out the week there was still some good news, I finally obtained my Bachelor’s degree.
Getting this degree has been the second biggest challenge I’ve faced in life. The journey was neither smooth nor steady. In high school, I was interested in Law, Psychology, and Accounting. I had big plans: make my parents proud, get a good job, earn lots of money, travel the world, buy my own place, settle down, get married, and have kids. I had a 5-year plan and a 10-year plan, but life isn’t that straightforward.

In my first year at uni, I tried Law as a major and Accounting as a minor. Not only was I terrible at it, but I also realized it wasn’t for me. The reality of being a lawyer or accountant didn’t match my expectations, so I switched courses. In my second year, I tried Psychology and felt like I had found my calling. I enjoyed my classes, settled down, and adapted my 5-year plan to my new path. Unfortunately, Psychology requires a lot of statistics, which I struggled with. After two years of war with statistics, I changed schools. It wasn’t an easy decision, I felt like a failure and outside school there was a lot going on personally that made me extra sensitive to my shortcomings. I was depressed, listless in my faith, disconnected from God and people, and I avoided social settings.

Looking back, I know God wanted me to experience that. During those three years that felt like wasted effort, I met amazing people who remain invaluable to me today. I learned to be independent, patient, to fail and pick myself up again, to confront difficulties and disappointment. Above all, I learned how genuinely blessed I am with the support system God has given me.

When I changed schools, the next three years went smoothly. I passed my exams, met amazing friends, dined with directors and professors, became a student representative and board member of two student councils, came out of my comfort zone, started my own projects, aced my internships, and graduated without failing any exams.

Although I didn’t check off my self-made list or see my 5-year plan through, God had other plans for me. It took me a long time to accept this and surrender to God’s plans, but once I did and stopped caring about what others thought or how far ahead they were, I found peace.
God taught me to focus on my own goals and destiny and align myself with His plans.

After a week of cancelled plans, I had a weekend full of celebration. This weekend I was recognized not only for my academic achievements but also for my contributions to The Kingdom and it was very reassuring to know that my endurance and efforts these past years have not been wasted. It really felt like my Father in heaven was smiling down on me, proud of my works despite my shortcomings and rewarding me at the end of it all.

It reminded me of the story of Joseph in the Bible, which is, of course, much more dramatic than mine.

Joseph’s Journey

Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob, worked his way up after experiencing various trails and setbacks in life. His very own brother (born of the same father) sold him into slavery and yet Joseph remained diligent and faithful to God. He worked hard as a servant in Potiphar’s house and, because after being recognized for his work ethic and integrity, he was put in charge of Potiphar’s entire household (Genesis 39:1-6).

Even after achieving success, Joseph still faced obstacles in life. Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him and he was thrown into prison. But even in prison, Joseph’s work and unwavering faith earned him the respect of the prison warden, who eventually put him in charge of all the prisoners (Genesis 39:20-23).

Joseph’s endurance when he was at his lowest and faithfulness were ultimately rewarded when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams. Recognizing his wisdom and the Spirit of God in him, Pharaoh appointed Joseph as the second-in-command over Egypt, giving him authority and honor (Genesis 41:38-41). Joseph was even able to save Egypt thanks to his wisdom and leadership during the seven years of famine. At the end of the day, he was even able to reunite with his family, who came to Egypt seeking food (Genesis 42-45).

Looking back at the journey I just completed while celebrating myself for not giving up, some verses really struck me when I read them. We all undergo trials and God rewards us even though the reward may not be what we expect or arrive when we expect it. He knows the bigger picture and we should trust Him more often.

James 1:12 – Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

1 Corinthians 15:57 – But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

1 Samuel 2:30 – Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.’

I want to thank God for seeing me through. My success isn’t an individual one; my parents, friends and church community have been extremely supportive. Thank you all for believing in me even when I lost hope in myself. Thank you for your prayers even when I stopped praying. Thank you for your words of encouragement when I lost confidence.

For those who have successfully completed their most recent trial: Congratulations.
For those who might still be in the midst of their trials: Know that God is with you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 : Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Stay Blessed x