Troubled but Not Distressed

Author:Liew Wei Bing

I was not a Christian from young. I attended Children Sunday School because my mother’s colleague repeatedly invited my sister and me. As I grew older, I also faced the realities of life. One incident which is still very vivid in my mind was this. My female classmate wrongly accused me of hitting her chest. She complained this to a relief teacher. This teacher immediately concluded that I was sex-pervert who had molested a female classmate. He wanted to take me to the headmistress and file a police report as he thought I had committed a criminal offence. I remembered I cried along the way. The whole school was shocked at what happened. By God’s grace, however, one of my mother’s colleagues saw what happened and told my mother of the incident. My mother brought me back to my classroom and told the “teacher” that it was not right to reach a conclusion without first ascertaining and being sure of what happened. The relief teacher got so annoyed, and I still remember what he told me: “DO NOT THINK THAT YOU ARE NOW SAFE JUST BECAUSE YOUR MOTHER COULD PROTECT YOU. I FORESEE THAT YOU WILL END UP IN JAIL.”

The incident made me realise how helpless a human being was when he faced life’s situations and how manipulative or deceptive people could become to achieve their aims. This caused me to shun away from people as I thought people could not be trusted. I also thought they would always be trying to prove themselves worthy of something. I remembered there a pastor saying that Jesus is the only way. I thought about it and realised if the pastor were right, all the other religions would not be genuine. However, I simply dismissed the thought.

During my secondary school education, I attended a mission school that focused a lot on Christianity. I attended chapel, however, for the sake of attendance. Moreover, with increasing competition and overwhelming schoolwork, I did not really think much of God. A miracle happened one day. The husband of my mother’s colleague met a serious accident when he was riding a motorcycle. He was sending his daughter for tuition when a car knocked into him. They then fell unconscious and was admitted to the hospital. The doctor’s prognosis was that he would either remain unconscious forever or if he regains consciousness, there would be a loss of memory. The news brought pain to her family. Throughout this misfortune, I saw her faithfulness in depending on her God as she surrendered her husband to her God. Also, with the love of the church’s brothers and sisters, she was filled with comfort. They visited her, helped her, and sang Christian worship songs. I was greatly touched by the love in these people. I realised that God could do the impossible.

Later, the husband woke up and gradually started to remember things. He started walking, although with the help of a clutch (until today). I sincerely believed, however, that it was a miracle: I saw that the weakness of man could be made perfect in God. We were convinced that Christianity is real. After attending catechism class, we also understood better the Christian faith. Eventually, my family and I were baptised in 2018 because of this event.

After becoming a Christian and baptism, I understand that the Christian journey is a long one. Walking with God was not a short dash. Life is still not a bed of roses for me. On the contrary, challenges of life have increased in the course of growing up, getting along with people, studies and now work. I resonate with Paul in 2 Cor 4: 8-9, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” I learned that when things turn bad, people betray you and forget your kindness, God will remember. He has forgiven our sins, including intentional or unintentional sin that could condemn us.

I have also learned to forgive the people who hurt me and not to walk life alone and carry self-imposed burdens. I believe that Christ loves us, and we can love other by Christ’s help. This love is possible because “Christ [is] in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27).