Written by Nathanael Goh
As we wrapped up the year, a group of youths from different congregations made our way to Malacca for our final youth trip of 2025. This wasn’t just another visit to another congregation. It was intentionally planned as a time to slow down, reflect, and reset especially after a long and often hectic year of work, studies, and responsibilities.
With the year coming to a close, the trip gave us space to pause and prepare our hearts for the year ahead. Anchored on 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 where Paul exhorts us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. The theme of Gratitude shaped everything we did throughout the 2-day trip.
Lessons That Connected Head to Heart
One of the key ideas explored during the trip was the cognitive triangle – how our thoughts influence our emotions, and our emotions shape our behaviour. This helped us see that gratitude isn’t just a feeling, but a mindset that needs to be intentionally cultivated. Each devotion and lesson were thoughtfully connected, guiding us from understanding the concept of gratitude to living it out in practical ways.
On Saturday afternoon (Day 1), we began with a Youth Fellowship, which set the tone for the rest of the day. Bro. Caleb shared a devotion on cultivating a heart of gratitude through the example of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11–19. The devotion reminded us that gratitude grows when we trust God, recognise His blessings, remember His faithfulness, and thank Him continually.
On Sunday (Day 2), I also had the privilege of sharing a sermon titled “In Everything Give Thanks: How God Works and Why We Can Trust Him.” We reflected on what we can rejoice in – our salvation (Matthew 5:12), God’s care for us in this life (Hebrews 13:6), and the salvation of others (Matthew 18:13). We also considered how God works through His providence (Matthew 6:25), our tribulations (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), and His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23; 1 Corinthians 10:13), and why His attributes give us every reason to trust Him.
This was followed by an encouraging Bible class by bro. Brendan, who focused on living out gratitude through prayer and trust in God’s work. One key takeaway stood out clearly: Trust strengthens prayer, prayer deepens gratitude, and gratitude reshapes our perspective, recentre our hearts and keep us grounded amidst the uncertainties of life.
Fellowship, Games, and Meaningful Connections
We gathered for a youth fellowship session with a total of 21 attendees – 11 from Kota Kemuning (KK), 2 from Subang Jaya, 2 from Section 17, 1 from KK/Malacca, and 5 from Malacca. A big shoutout to bro. Ben and sis. Emily for organising and executing the activities, under the guidance of bro. Calvin Tan.
The game stations were designed not just for fun, but also for reflection and interaction.
- Game Station 1 invited participants to draw something that illustrated gratitude. Additional stationery was earned by responding honestly to prompts about gratitude – there were no right or wrong answers, only sincere reflections.
- Game Station 2 was Gratitude Bingo, where participants went around matching descriptions to people and capturing moments through photos, turning simple interactions into lasting memories.
We ended the evening with letter-writing where we took the time to encourage one another and express appreciation for each other’s presence. It was a meaningful way to close the day, reinforcing the idea that gratitude is best expressed intentionally and personally.
Beyond lessons, fellowship played a huge role in this trip. After the afternoon Youth Fellowship, we headed to the beach to unwind together. With coconut shakes in hand, laughter in the background, and the sea breeze around us, it was a simple and refreshing time of fellowship.
Reflections and Key Takeaways
All in all, this was a deeply encouraging trip. It gave us the opportunity to appreciate one another after a busy year and connect with our Malacca brethren.
As I reflected on the trip, three key takeaways stood out to me:
1. The importance of framing our thoughts on godly things (2 Corinthians 4:18; Romans 12:1-2)
- What we dwell on shapes our core beliefs. Gratitude reshapes our perspective, recentres our hearts, and the joy we exhibit becomes a testimony to those around us (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17).
2. Do all things without complaining or murmuring (Philippians 2:14)
- Complaining distracts us from what God has already done and slowly forms a negative core belief if left unchecked.
3. Make time to thank God and appreciate those around you.
- No matter how busy life gets, gratitude should remain intentional towards God and towards one another (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Conclusion
Our trip to Malacca was more than a year-end getaway. It was a timely reminder to pause, reflect, and reset our hearts with gratitude. As we head into a new year, may we continue to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances, trusting that God is at work, even when we don’t always see it.