When All Seems Lost 绝处逢生
Author: Bro Lim Siew Meng
Translate: Sis Charis Ong
Romans 8:28: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good.
2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Looking back at the period between mid-2018 and 2019, though I did not have to make any compensation for the three consecutive traffic accidents I was involved in, I still suffered a scare three times and wasted a lot of time and energy in the settlements.
During the same period, a foreign worker fell at the Jobsite and sustained injuries. This triggered a lot of stress and losses for me – whether monetary, time, physical or mental health. I was in much torment and the entire episode took nearly 2 years 3 months to conclude. There was a night that I dreamt I was sleeping next to Brother Paul Tan. When I awoke, I was clear that Brother Paul Tan had already accomplished his God-given tasks and is now asleep in the arms of the Lord.
Due to various reasons, my subsequent applications for employment of foreign workers were rejected. There was little choice but to wind up the business in a short span of time. By God’s grace, I was introduced to a brother in Christ who worked in the same line as I did by a sister in Christ, and he was willing to take over my work. The limitation of time coupled with an emphasis on being faithful to our words in the body of Christ, making a profit or loss was not a major consideration, as such, the deal was closed very quickly.
After winding up the business, I proceeded to arrange for the sale of the house where I have stayed for 20 years and shifted to a HDB flat. The transaction took place during the COVID-19 outbreak which resulted in many limitations to the renovation and shifting processes. We went through many difficulties but with the grace of God, we made it through.
Now, I am living a retirement life I had not prepared for. My attempts at job search, whether for full time or part-time positions, have not been successful. Yet, God made His grace evident once more through the arrival of my grandson. This new addition to the family shook up my daily routine and added much joy to my days. I was at the same time able to participate in service work. This led me to recall Deacon Cai Yun Nan once told me: “There is no retirement in serving the Lord, till the day we return home and rest in His embrace”.
文/林秀民弟兄
罗马书8:28节：万事都互相效力
哥林多后书12章9节：我的恩典是够你用的，因为我的能力在人的软弱上显得完全……
回顾2018 年中至2019年间，连续发生三次的车祸，虽然都不需要赔偿损失，但被惊吓了三次，浪费了很多时间和精神去处理善后的工作。
在这期间，一名外国劳工在工作场所跌倒受伤，引发我承受极大的压力和损失，不论在金钱、时间、精神和健康承受很大的折磨，总共拖了两年三个月，整个事件才解决。有一个晚上在睡梦中，梦见和景云弟兄睡在一起，梦醒时清楚的知道弟兄已完成了神托付于他的工作，如今已安睡在主的怀中。
因各种的原因，接下来申请外劳的准证都不被批准，因此不得在短时间内安排结束生意。神的恩典，在很短的时间内通过主内的姐妹介绍一位信主的同行弟兄，愿意接手我的工作，受时间的局限，主内肢体注重于言而有信，得失不是主要的考量重点，也因此很快成交。
感恩工作结束之后，就安排把住了20年的屋子卖了，转而购买了组屋。在这交易期间遇上了疫情来袭，为了装修和搬迁种种的问题受到很多的限制；经过很多的波折，靠神的恩典安然的度过。
如今开始过着没有预备好的退休生活。虽然有去寻找工作，不论全职或兼职都不能如愿，但是神又有恩典，家里增添了小孙子，也改变了生活作息和乐趣，同时有机会参与一些服侍的工作；这也让我想起四十年前已故的蔡允楠执事，曾经告诉我说:“服侍神的工作是没有退休的，直到安息主怀，回到天家”。
彼此共勉之，绝处逢生，风雨过后有彩虹。感恩！