Written by Kaitlyn Tan
As I look toward the new year, I can’t help but reflect on the past one. God has so abundantly showered me with His blessings and cared for me — from the gift of staying healthy, the privilege of attending university, the joy of travelling with family and brethren, the blessing of meaningful friendships, to the opportunity to be spiritually refreshed through events and workshops.
As always, the year has been a wild roller coaster ride, filled with highs and lows, laughters and tears, happiness and heartbreaks. Yet through it all, there has always been a lesson to learn, a blessing to enjoy and a memory to cherish.
With that in mind, I penned down three of my most memorable takeaways from the year.
The Joy of Fellowship and The Power of Love
This past year brought many youth trips — Penang, Skudai, Ipoh, Singapore and Melaka. Visiting different congregations always stirs mixed feelings — excitement to meet new brethren and reconnect with old ones, yet also fear being unaccepted or unable to connect with brethren.
But time and again, I am proven wrong. Brethren from near and far showed hospitality and care beyond expectation — checking if we were well-rested, feeding us, and bringing us around town. In a world often driven by self-interest, the church community lives out Paul’s words:
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
I remember at Four Seas classes this past year, I entered knowing no one, but left leaving a piece of my heart behind. Their genuine care, smiles and love reflect Paul’s message on humility in regarding others as more worthy than themselves.
In their fellowship, I found that true joy comes from sharing the same love for God and all people. Hence, Paul’s command of selflessness stems from the joy of unity, as He described earlier:
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (Philippians 2:1-2)
Growing up in a church family, I have continuously received this care. However, each year I find myself even more thankful for the love shown to me. Even when I felt like I was undeserving of such kindness, brethren never wavered. In these moments, I am reminded of Paul’s exhortation:
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
With the love of fellowship, I have experienced great care. It pushes me wanting to walk worthy of that love and I wish to pass on this genuineness to those I meet, so that love may continue to spread further.
Trusting and Waiting Upon the Lord
Entering university this past year, I, like many other students, applied to various clubs and societies. However, despite many attempts, I was never accepted. Watching peers and even close friends succeed while I faced rejection, each failure hit harder. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was simply bad, untalented or undeserving of such opportunities.
Yet in those moments of rejection, Romans 8:28 reminded me of a greater truth:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
The Greek word behind “work together” synergeo, means “to work together toward a shared goal”.
It points to God Himself as the One who transforms every circumstance — not only successes and satisfactions, but also sufferings and sorrows — to fit together into His providential plan, for our ultimate good and glory.
This verse teaches me that the ups in life grow gratitude, while the downs deepen dependence on Him. Even painful experiences like rejection can serve a purpose. God may not cause every disappointment, but He can work through all of them, using them to accomplish His plans.
It reminds me that my disappointments are not wasted. They reveal my frailty and the need to lean on Him. And because He designed me, He knows me best and I ought to always turn to Him rather than rely on myself.
So even in disappointment, I hold on to the comfort Romans 8:28 provides, knowing that God’s timing is perfect and nothing is wasted.
Serving with Humility
This past year has been one of my most active youth years. I was involved in many activities — from planning fellowships to working behind the scenes. Often I wondered whether the things I did were right, whether God was pleased, or whether brethren appreciated them.
Working behind the scenes, many efforts go unsaid, unseen and unappreciated. Yet my constant motivation remains “never give up!!”.
I am reminded that even Jesus Himself modelled humility in service through the washing of His disciples’ feet, showing that no act of service is beneath us (Mark 10:45, John 13:14-15). How then can I complain or refuse to serve?
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. (John 13:14-15)
By His example, He showed us not to be condescending or proud, but to regard ourselves as servants of one another. Just as He served, we are called to do likewise. The washing of feet was not glamorous, but it revealed the heart of true service, expressed in humility.
Menial service and the duty of humility are not lowly, but are central to the life He calls us to live.
This reminds me to continue serving just as Jesus did, to remember that even though our labour may be unseen, we should not lose heart (Galatians 6:9-10) because our labour in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58, Luke 8:17).
In conclusion, my three takeaways from the past year are:
(1) The Joy of Fellowship and The Power of Love,
(2) Trusting and Waiting Upon the Lord, and
(3) Serving with Humility.
Together, they remind me that the Christian life is not lived alone, but in love, faith and humble service to God and His people!
I am truly grateful for each of you who have been part of my past year. Your presence played a part in shaping my journey, making it both memorable and purposeful.
As the new year begins, I look forward to having you by my side once more. Will you join me?