Testimony & Thanksgiving: He Loves Me For Me

by Jolyn Sim, Singapore Sports School

Seeds of Growth (SoG) 2020 is a 4-part series of sessions for JC & IB students where we will come together to experience God’s love as a community. With the current COVID-19 situation, some of us may find it difficult to remain close to Jesus. Yet, the Lord still invites us into a time of growth and deepening of our relationship with him during this period!


I entered IB this year knowing that life was going to be much tougher compared to secondary school. Furthermore, having grown up hearing people constantly tell me, “God will only help only him who wants to be helped”, I believed that I needed to prove that I was putting my best effort into my work or anything in my life before God would help me. I felt the need to prove that I had something that made me worthy to be loved and that I needed to pull my own weight before anyone else could help me, even God. As my life grew more and more hectic, my faith slowly took a back seat while working to meet the expectations of excelling in my studies and balancing everything else became my priority.

During one of the SOG sessions, we were asked to reflect on what was keeping us from remaining in the Father’s house. I realised that my need for control over my life, constantly saw me giving my attention to everything else while only coming back to God when I was sure I had achieved enough. However, during prayer ministry, I received the truth that I need not be afraid to stay in the Father’s house and put God first as putting Him first wouldn’t mean that I would miss out on time to study or train, but in surrendering my life to Him, I would allow myself to be truly loved and accepted by him in spite of what I have or have not achieved. Through these words spoken to me, I realised that God never needed me to prove myself for Him to love me, and I didn’t need to go out and struggle on my own before I could come back with something to offer my Father. I am enough and am loved wholly and fully by him already!

Although SOG has ended and the intensity of IB life remains, I now take on these challenges with a new sense of peace in knowing that I am enough in the eyes of my Father. I do not have to fight alone and God doesn’t need to be separate from the rest of my life. The Lord truly loves me regardless of how much I achieve in my life.

Brothers and sisters, I invite you to open your heart to listen to the Lord for He invites you on a journey with him. Will you allow him to reveal to you more of his love for you even amidst the busyness of our lives, just as he did for me?

Share:

Read More

The One Thing Necessary
Gabriella Spykerman

Lent 2024: The Road to Calvary

Finding it difficult to enter into a prayerful disposition this Holy Week? Or undecided on how you wish to pray through it? Our Holy Week booklet is here to accompany

Read More »
The One Thing Necessary
Gabriella Spykerman

The One Thing Necessary: 5th Sunday of Lent

‘Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But, if it dies, it produces many seeds.’ (John 12:24) In this Sunday’s Gospel, we’re reminded of the reality of death. At first glance, we may be quick to think of the physical and natural aspect of death. Yet, the call of Christ also entails dying to self – surrendering the desires, the habits and lifestyles that prevent us from following and loving Him.

Read More »
The One Thing Necessary
Gabriella Spykerman

The One Thing Necessary: 4th Sunday of Lent

What’s wrong with the world? As we scroll through the headlines of wars and crimes happening today, this question may surface in our thoughts. It has also been pondered throughout human history, for the darkness in the world is not something unique to our time.

Read More »
The One Thing Necessary
Gabriella Spykerman

The One Thing Necessary: 3rd Sunday of Lent

If Jesus were to enter our churches today, what will He find? He would not find any cattle, sheep or doves, like in today’s gospel. But will He find our hearts noisy and distracted with our worldly concerns and thoughts? 

Read More »
On Key

Read More

Lent 2024: The Road to Calvary

Finding it difficult to enter into a prayerful disposition this Holy Week? Or undecided on how you wish to pray through it? Our Holy Week booklet is here to accompany

The One Thing Necessary: 5th Sunday of Lent

‘Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But, if it dies, it produces many seeds.’ (John 12:24) In this Sunday’s Gospel, we’re reminded of the reality of death. At first glance, we may be quick to think of the physical and natural aspect of death. Yet, the call of Christ also entails dying to self – surrendering the desires, the habits and lifestyles that prevent us from following and loving Him.

The One Thing Necessary: 4th Sunday of Lent

What’s wrong with the world? As we scroll through the headlines of wars and crimes happening today, this question may surface in our thoughts. It has also been pondered throughout human history, for the darkness in the world is not something unique to our time.