Learning To Trust In God
Hi all, I am Cheryl! I recently concluded my 4 years of University studies. My heart is filled with thankfulness as I reflect on the journey and recall the Lord’s hand each and every step of the way. Through the struggles of navigating through university and into the next phase of life, I experienced more of what it means to trust in the Lord.
Discovering the fault in my own plans
4 years ago, I embarked on my studies in Biology with my eyes all set on going into research as a career. I even had a plan laid out for myself – to immerse myself in as many lab internships as possible and to further my studies immediately after graduation. But about 2 years into my degree, I realized that things were not going according to plan. I found that I was not doing as well as I wanted to in the lab and I struggled to even love the content I was learning. At this point, I knew that the plan I had set for myself was going downhill, and the sense of fear and uncertainty of the future gripped me.
Placing my trust in God in the face of uncertainty
However, the 2 years that followed were very special years of my university life, as it was during these years that I learned what it means to trust in God. Amidst the overwhelming emotions, I sought to practise what the Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 27:14,
Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
In prayer, I asked that this time of uncertainty may be a time for me to draw closer to Him. God graciously granted me the strength to cope with the emotions, and amidst these fears, I found a sense of peace knowing that God is there with me. The sense of fear and uncertainty slowly went away as I focused on the Lord. What was going to happen after graduation? I didn’t have an answer then, but I learnt lessons about trusting in God. And that was all that mattered.
God has become so much more real to me. The challenges of the past 4 years allowed me to draw closer to Him. I have experienced what it means to trust in Him, and I know that He is always there.
By God’s grace and mercy, I will be commencing work in a completely different field that I’ve come to enjoy. I thank God for how He has led and provided each step of the way! While the next phase of life presents its own set of challenges and uncertainties, I must continue to rely on the Lord even as I step into the working world.