Contributed by Michelle Chuan • Apr 8, 2025
The book of Jonah reminds me of myself as I had struggled through life with disappointments and challenges living in this nation of double standards being practised in areas of education and even in employment. Yet looking back God has been and is still patient with me, leading and guiding me through them and being continuously merciful to those who had taken advantage of me because of their worldly status.
I recall having lost the opportunity to further my education and career opportunities yet, God had always provided the way for me to forgive and move on to do His Will. His blessings come when my career takes a different path. He had provided ways and means for my children’s education to be fulfilled according to His plan. He had a better plan for my life than the one that I had wanted for myself.
Although I had not fulfilled my ambition and had a different career path, God had a better plan for me in serving Him and seeking Him through all the challenges I faced while working in the education field as a teacher. I have been able to instil Godly values in the lives of the primary school children which I had been placed in. No doubt I had faced many challenges throughout the decades I had been teaching but with God by my side, I had completed my service.
God’s provision continues as I am still taken care of in the benefits I still receive as a government pensioner. During the Covid lockdown, I was so thankful that I had persevered and completed my service and as such I have a monthly providence while many others struggle with insufficient income or no income.
Now I continue to pray for His grace and mercy for those who are in authority. That He will guide and lead the leaders in this nation and expose the weaknesses so that repentance will lead to positive changes just like the Ninevites ruler did. As God does not give up on anyone, let us not give up on our nation too. Similarly, if you see someone who is struggling to get back to God, will you encourage the person to seek God’s mercy and pray together?