Wang Yaling, 2012, Singapore
After my divorce in 2003, I took my 9-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son to live in a shelter for a year. I was penniless as my ex-husband couldn’t afford to pay me alimony and my parents were in Malaysia. We managed to apply for a 1-bedroom rental apartment from the government, and we lived there for the next nine years. I got a job as a production operator in a factory, drawing a salary of S$900. Everything we needed in life was dependent entirely on God’s provision. The brothers and sisters in the church also regularly helped us out financially and blessed us with practical help.
In 2012, with my ex-pastor’s encouragement to study in School of Theology (SOT), I decided to enrol myself that year. Even though finances were very tight, I felt a prompting in my heart to invest my time and my money to be rooted in the Word of God. To study in SOT is one of the best decisions I have made in my life. My faith was strengthened and my spiritual walk with God was back on track. Not only was I recharged in my spirit, I received the powerful healing of the Lord. God healed the hurts I had from my failed marriage and gave me a renewed outlook on life. Thank You Jesus!
In 2013, I successfully applied for the government’s newly built 1-bedroom HDB apartments. When we got the keys in 2015, our family was really happy and thankful. The room was bright and airy and it felt like home. I also received a government subsidy of S$60,000, which was half of the apartment price. We used to live in poverty and lack; but now, we have a home to call our own. This was something I never imagined. Our Lord is faithful. He opened the windows of heaven for me, poured out blessings into my life, and gave me sufficiency for all my needs. By this time, my children were 21 and 16.
I had been praying for the Lord to bring a partner into my life. My requirements were simple—just a man who loved the Lord. I trusted in God’s will and in His goodness towards me. In June 2017, I met Guangyao in church. He was serving in the choir, while I was in the Greeters ministry. We got along very well together and often shared our hearts with each other. As time passed, I was sure that this man was brought to me by the Lord. In 2019, Guangyao proposed to me, and we were ready to enter into marriage.
With the children all grown up, we knew that a 1-bedroom apartment would not be enough to accommodate the whole family. We prayed and believed God for a 3-bedroom apartment so that the two children could have their individual rooms, and Guangyao and I could have our own room. Guangyao, who lives and works at The New Charis Mission, draws a humble salary; while I am self-employed, doing cleaning work. We have very little funds in our CPF funds to purchase an HDB flat. But we prayed in faith, without anxiety, and told God what we wanted. We also faithfully gave to God, fulfilled our tithes, and served Him, all the while believing that God will provide!
We applied for HDB apartment together and praise the Lord, managed to get it on our second attempt. We chose a 4-room HDB apartment in Yishun. Our hearts were full of gratitude towards the Lord for this dream come true. What is even more amazing is that due to the rise in the price of resale HDB apartments during this period, my 1-bedroom apartment was sold at a very good price. The money from the proceeds, added to the subsidies provided by the government, allowed us to completely offset the price of a new 4-room HDB apartment! God used a one-bedroom apartment with an outstanding loan to exchange for us a brand new, loan-free, 4-room apartment with three bedrooms! We secured our dream home without getting into debt! The Lord has indeed given us more than we could ask or imagine!
The Lord has given me a personal revelation that He is my Shepherd—and that He will bless us if we are willing to give Him everything. We pray that the Lord will use us to do His will as husband and wife, and to become witnesses for the glory of the Lord.