Testimony by Celeste Gue
Before joining RCIY, I was in JC, which was a really tough period for me: I wasn’t doing well in school, struggling with my leadership role, and also facing problems at home. I always felt like I was not good enough, which gave rise to feelings of unworthiness and I found myself overwhelmed and burdened by these thoughts. I relied greatly on my own strength and pride to carry me through all these problems. However, even as these problems gradually resolved, my heart continued to feel heavy and I was left tired and worn out at the end of it all. New worries about university choices also started to appear.
At this point of my life where I was undergoing many life changes, the Lord appeared to me through my friend who sent me details about this RCIY programme and with some courage, I agreed to go for it. Initially, the sessions felt scary and foreign to me. Being an IJ girl for 10 years, I kind of knew about God but to have a personal relationship with Him?! I didn’t know how that was possible… Amazingly, God knew my fears and placed such good people to be on this journey with me. The journey partners were so encouraging and open to sharing about their faith that eventually, my fear of going for these RCIY sessions faded away and was replaced with excitement and joy and I found myself being more open to the sessions.
However, this journey of faith has not been smooth-running. Many times, I struggled to trust God and was so adamant about finding the sole reason I had been called here because there was no big turning point for me. Was there something wrong with how I led my life previously? Is God trying to tell me something? The few months leading up to baptism became even tougher… The loss of loved ones and new and growing fears in my life… I couldn’t understand why these events were happening in my life and I grew angry and doubtful of God.
Yet, it was during these tough times in which I was constantly called to prayer; to pray and spend more time with God. And then I understood. There was no need for any big turning point or reason that I was called here. Rather, the Lord had appeared to me to be my comfort in affliction, to bring me true peace, and to give me joy like no other! From Psalm 28:7 ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield’ and it was through these tough times that I had learnt to rely on and to surrender my problems and fears to God. By relying on my own strength, I was often tired and worn out but with His strength, there was greater peace and lesser stress amidst my struggles.
Indeed, there are many things that I still do not know, but I can rejoice in the fact that our God is good, a God who is patient, understanding and so so loving. A verse that speaks out to me from 2 Corinthians 5:17 ‘If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation’ Whilst my journey with and towards Christ has just started, I can say that Jesus has changed my life and that I am so grateful to be His new creation!
The Lord desires to walk with you through the ups and downs of your life, to strengthen you, to comfort you and so much more. Will you take courage and accept the Lord’s invitation to come and see who He is today?
Sign up for OYP’s new run of RCIY here!
