CHARISSA CHEONG reflects on God’s provision in her life…
London, UK
Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. – Ephesians 3:20
In the past week, I have been completely and utterly blown away by the favour that God has poured out over my life.
This time last year, I had just graduated from university and was filled with uncertainty about what the next stage of my life would look like. I always dreamed of working in journalism but was unsure about whether my dream would ever become a reality. I enrolled in a short journalism course and left the rest to God. I was making money from waitressing gigs and thought I would least have that to rely on if things didn’t work out.
PICTURE: Sixteen Miles Out/Unsplash
“This week, I’ve been reflecting on how God has consistently over-provided for me, not just in this last year, but across my entire life. I went through a really difficult season as a teenager after losing my dad to a heart attack, and there were many moments where my mum and I were unsure how we would manage, emotionally and financially, without him. But when I look at how my life has played out since then, I can see nothing but God’s favour and grace…”
Just a few days ago, I finished up my last day of a six-month journalism job at a global media company, and I have been offered a full-time position on the team, starting next month. I never would have thought that I would be living my dream so shortly after leaving university, and looking back on the last year, I can see that God has exceeded my every expectation for what working life would be like.
In the big things and the little things, He has delivered. I prayed for extra finances since I was no longer a student, and ended up in a steady, well-paid job. I prayed that I would receive favour in that job and ended up receiving a promotion. I prayed that I would hit my monthly targets at work and ended up surpassing them without having to struggle or strive.
This week, I’ve been reflecting on how God has consistently over-provided for me, not just in this last year, but across my entire life. I went through a really difficult season as a teenager after losing my dad to a heart attack, and there were many moments where my mum and I were unsure how we would manage, emotionally and financially, without him. But when I look at how my life has played out since then, I can see nothing but God’s favour and grace, as He blessed me with glowing exam results at school, a place at a top university, and financial security.
I know without a shadow of a doubt that none of these things would have happened if God was not with me. Through His power at work inside me, I’ve been able to experience and receive so much more than I ever would have dreamed about.
I’m aware that for many people, post-university life, or life in general, simply hasn’t looked like this. Perhaps you’ve experienced disappointments that make it difficult to see where God and his ‘infinite’ goodness could possibly be at work.
For myself, the disappointment and pain I felt following the loss of my dad brought me to a place of having extremely low expectations for my life. I didn’t feel that God was looking to bless me, but to take from me.
But God proved me wrong. At every turn, He has shown me that He is immeasurably, undeniably good. For everything I have lost, He has given back a hundred-fold, not just with material things and securities, but with assurances of His exceeding love for me.
Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely areas in my life where I still doubt God’s ability to do more. There are situations I’ve been praying about that seem impossible or too-far-gone, because at the moment, I don’t see anything about them changing. But I also feel God challenging me to increase my expectations of what He can do, and trust that if He says He’s going to show up, then He’s going to show up.
I hope to encourage you today, that even in the middle of disappointments, God’s love for you and desire to bless you is so vast and so deep, and He desperately wants to prove that to you.
