NAGOYA UNION CHURCH

A SMALL CHURCH WITH A BIG LOVE FOR GOD


A light of hope

(This blog post is written by our worship leader, Jeane.)

 

God Knows Best
 

Isaiah 55:8.  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways."

 

I started this year with so much hope and joy, but not because I am always hopeful, happy and full of life. I admit that no matter how sunny my disposition is, as a full time homemaker, lead worshipper and a little bit of this, that, sometimes I am just swamped with countless tasks. It always begins with a manageable and realistic setting but somewhere along the way things get out of hand, especially when I also have to deal with the work and education of my husband and son. And it's worse when either of them is sick!

That's when I find it's a blessing to slow down and reflect while I'm recovering from exhaustion. I've played this gospel song over and over again since I first heard it because I was so moved by the powerful lyrics and anointed singing of Charity Gayle. The song is called 'Seed of Faith' and this is the chorus part...

 

Fear not, I am the Lord your God

And trust that I'm working all things out

So in the field of doubt 

plant a seed of faith

And I'll send the rain

 

My husband has been telling me that he wanted to move and try his luck in the Philippines for quite a while. He was blessed with a great experience working there for 5 years more than two decades ago and was able to flourish and build strong connections for their company through networking. But this time he wants to do it independently after retiring early and that's when I started to seek the Lord more and pray for our future.

I am not a newbie in moving from one country to another, we did it thrice and it involves a lot of struggles, fears and tears leaving the life you built painstakingly for years and good friends behind each time. It doesn't help that raising bicultural kids is so much harder nowadays for reasons even the most prayerful family suffer from. But I remind myself how God has been steadily sending good people into our lives and sometimes literally out of nowhere to help us gain a footing on a trajectory of His will for us. I know God will protect and prosper us wherever we go. I'm planting a seed of faith while courageously battling the fear of the unknown at this very moment...

We all have our personal trials no matter how faithfully we pray, it's not always smooth sailing and sometimes we don't really understand why. Then, just as we finally feel home, the circumstances around us are leading us in the opposite direction.

Let's trust God completely. He's working all things out for each one of us.