Abby Shai, 2014, Singapore
I left Singapore Airlines as a cabin crew and was trying to get a job for one and a half years since 2018. I sent out resumes to almost every job that piqued my interest, but after six months, there was no response and so I decided to lower my expectations. I sent out resumes to almost every job that I qualified for, regardless of interest. In total, I had sent out almost 5,000 applications. click away. Still, I wasn’t called for a single interview.
Being unemployed affected many areas of my life—I had no income and our family of four had to depend on my husband’s income. Every meal had to be well planned out: two slices of bread for breakfast, yesterday’s left over for my lunch and simple home-cooked food for dinner. I remember passing by Mr Bean one day and craving for soya bean milk, but I didn’t allow myself to buy it because I wanted to save the money. My clothes got bigger because I had lost all my pregnancy weight, but I had no spare cash to buy fitting clothes and undergarments. So I walked around in clothes that were two to three times bigger than my size. When my girls wanted candy and snacks, I told them that I had something nicer waiting for them at home; hoping they would forget about it by the time they reached home. Life was tough and I felt like I was parched in a dry desert with no rain or even clouds for shade. Yet through it all, my husband, Ben, and I continued to give our tithes faithfully to God.
During the Crowning Sessions organised by City Harvest at the beginning of 2019, I sent in my prayer request, asking the team to pray for me. I felt a breakthrough in my spirit that day when the prayer was written down by the intercessory team and sent in the WhatsApp group chat for prayer. My cell group leader and members continued to encourage me and believed together with me for a breakthrough. Then the miracle happened. I started receiving calls for interviews. I even had an offer from a company that I did not apply to. According to them, they found me in a previously unsuccessful job application and asked if I was interested in their current job offer. I went for the interview and started the job in July 2019.
I enjoyed a 14% increment in January 2020 after just six months into my role. Throughout my eight months in the company, I received performance bonuses amounting to 21% from 4 different bosses that I served, who were all very satisfied with my work. Despite the Covid situation, God protected my job while many of my colleagues were let go. I thank the Lord for His grace and mercy.
Last year in 2022, I received a sponsorship from my company to further my studies. The economy was bad but my company decided to invest in me. I had a role change at the end of the year and received a prestigious award given out by the Vice President of the company. My salary adjusted twice within a span of six months, which amounts to a total increase of 20% in the midst of an economic slump!
In January 2023, I graduated from my degree programme with distinction! 2022 may have been the toughest year in my life, but it was a year when I saw the glory of God so evidently! I’m so thankful to God that I was able to experience His goodness, fulfilment and restoration over my life.
“Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”
Psalm 126:1, 4-6 NIV