Nepal 2012

The land of smiles. We often say that a problem is a “First World Problem” or a “Third World Problem.” Does it matter whether the problem lies in a specific part of the world? Problems will arise when and where they want, and one problem is all that is required to send all the great things crashing down at your feet. We all have problems.

Over the past week, as mentioned in my previous post, my girlfriend fell ill and was in so much pain while I was away—miles and miles away from home. I was devastated about the fact that she was sick and that I wasn’t able to be there for her. I was often driven to a corner and to tears. When that happened, I was stripped down from my prideful self. Stripped by God to remind me of my where my true worth is found. I have always believed that I’m capable of taking care of things, but was once again humbled. So much for reading the Bible. So much for trying to be humble. But when things went my way, I went ahead and chucked God aside, slowly pushing Him away. But once again, I really thanked God for this issue or this challenge because it really strengthened us. You will be put down, you will be in pain, but God will never leave you down in pain. Those that prayed for us, I thank you.

I know that smiling is not the exact thing that you would say when a loved one enters a hospital (yes, she is hospitalized due to pneumonia). I smile, however, and give thanks to God. I give thanks because the cause of my girlfriend’s sickness is found out. I give thanks because there’s a cure. I give thanks because now she’s in the care of professionals. Lastly, I give thanks because there was a lesson that was taught through the pain.

One of the lessons that I think both of us learned is to trust God. It might sound easy to many of you, but I had to hold on to it like dear life. I was recently at a talk that reminded me to put down my pride and trust God, and I was also at service which reminded me. I think this was one of the weeks where God placed more signs in my life and reminded me to trust Him. After these talks and sermons, I was reminded to trust and I had a fiery passion to trust. But once I reached home and I heard that my girlfriend was experiencing difficulty while sleeping and was not being able to move around, *Splash,* the fire was put out—I had to be reminded repeatedly to trust.

All I want to say after this long post is that to put your faith in God, even though it won’t be easy as mentioned in the Our Daily Bread:

I know not, but God knows;

Oh, blessed rest from fear!

All my unfolding days

To Him are plain and clear. —Flint

Lastly, just like love and any other feelings, they don’t come as fuzzy feelings like I always say. They come as opportunities. the opportunity to love, to trust and to hope. They never come easy. The greater the magnitude, the greater the obstacle to apply. Just as mentioned in Romans, Hope is free but it doesn’t come easily.

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

—pic and copy submitted by Victor Kuah, Australia