200903 Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God

I believe all of us don’t like to experience failures in life. But in real life, unpleasant experiences are inevitable. The key is how we find strength from our LORD to stand up again and find hope to move on in life. At one point, King David lost his mentor, Samuel, when King Saul was after him and his best friend, Jonathan, left him alone. His supports were stripped away from his mentor and best friend. So, he fled and ended up in a cave. It was in the cave that he met God. Even he experienced many failures in life but he strengthened himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6b). To you O Lord I put my trust! Who can be against me if you are with me???

The experience to KL to sit for TOEFL had been a time of experiencing His abounding grace again. Though I did not really plan for it, but all I can say is His overflowing favour and grace. Upon arrival, I suffered from diarrhea may be due to the food I took in the plane. But God had prepared a place for me to take good rest in a hotel and I got well the next day. Then I had the opportunity to review the TOEFL sample questions until the test date.

On Saturday, I went to the test center one hour before the test to give ample time for registration and briefing. Everything went smoothly and I really thank God that a sister alerted me to check the things required for the test before I took off from KK. So, I checked the website and found out that I needed to bring an ID with photo and signature. If I hadn’t checked the website, I probably would have been disqualified from the test because I would have have just brought along my IC instead of passport.

The test started on time and thank God the computer system functioned well. The test itself took four hours and it was barely bearable for me as my attention span is considered short. Haha.. But by God’s grace, I persevered and finished the test right on the dot. Coming out from the test center, my heart sank to the deep valley that I really did not think I scored well. I told myself, not another failure experience!! I was reminded through a sms to trust God with all my heart and lean not upon my own understanding, in all my ways acknowledge him and he will make my paths straight.

I do not have control over the TOEFL result but I trust in my God as the result is in His hand. Like King David, I really need God’s strength to stand against the thought of failure in my mind. If my TOEFL score meets the requirement from the seminaries, I will move one step closer to completing my application. Hallelujah!!

PSALM 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.