On 1 July 2020, YEF Singapore members attended the first Wednesday service in the month of July.

During the service, Pastor preached a message from Romans 5:1-8, titled “We Rejoice in Our Sufferings”. He shared that when facing the sufferings in our lives, the attitude towards sufferings is very crucial. One can be caught up in self-torment by relating the suffering to God’s curse or seeing sufferings as blessings that can strengthen us. The love of Christ is poured out abundantly on Man and nothing can separate Man from God’s love. In this love, there is joy that even suffering cannot overcome. In Christ, we can rejoice in our sufferings.

One YEF member shared her reflections for the message:

When I meditate on today’s message, first, I realised that nothing is easy in this world. Humans always try to find easy ways and to take shortcuts. However, there is no shortcuts in this world. If one wants to do well, one needs to put in effort and make sacrifices. This is the rule of this world as this is how this world is made. When God created the Heavens and Earth, it was not easy. There was a lot of effort put in by God and there was a lot of sacrifices made by God. This is the truth, the truth about sacrifice. Hence, as we walk the path of faith, it is unavoidable that we will face difficulties and sufferings.

When we face sufferings, it is easy to take the lawful perspective and associate suffering with curse or punishment. Though we should evaluate ourselves and repent of our sins when bad things happen, we cannot let this lead to self-tormenting. Regardless of what happened, we need to believe and trust that God loves us. Satan always try to waver our faith by doubting our self-identity. When Satan tempted Jesus, he said to Jesus “If You are the Son of God …” following this, is always an action or result. Satan tries to link Jesus’ identity with what Jesus can do or what God will do for Him. Actually, the identity of Jesus as Son of God is not dependent on deeds. Regardless of whether stones become bread or not, He is still Son of God. In the same way, our environment and situation do not determine our relationship and identity in God. In Romans 8:39, it is written:

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thus, regardless of whether we face sufferings or not, it cannot damage our relationship with God. In fact, in Christ’s love, we can rejoice in all circumstances, even in sufferings. We can take on the view of the gospel knowing that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.