Ophelia Sek, 2019, Singapore
Upon my graduation from University and the School of Theology in 2019, I was left with a school loan of close to S$40,000 that I had to pay off.
By God’s grace, I managed to secure a 1-year contract role in a local bank once SOT ended. However, with the monthly repayment of the loan, I was practically unable to have any savings. The pandemic affected the livelihood of my parents, who are blue collar workers. They suffered a pay cut and my mother had to look for a new job.
I was worried about my job stability and career progression since I was employed as a staff under an annual contract. However, I chose to trust in God’s faithfulness. After working in the bank as a contract staff for two years, I was offered a full-time position with a 20% pay increment at the end of 2021. I was thankful to God for the favour of man and the provision. Nevertheless, I was still stuck with the repayment of the loan and it was truly a burden that weighed heavily upon my shoulders.
Ophelia (middle) and her colleagues
A few months before my bonus was due, I thought of praying and believing for a bonus that was able to clear off my debt completely. After much thought and seeking advice from people around me, it seem like an impossible expectation. Therefore, I pushed that thought aside. At the same time, my mother had to change her job again and suffered another pay cut. Hence, I was truly worried about finances.
At the start of 2023, the church held a week of early morning and late night prayer meetings. During one of the late night prayer meetings, Pastor Lynn shared a testimony of her member that had received a 15-month bonus and managed to cleared off his debt. Upon hearing this testimony, it reignited my faith to pray and believe in God’s provision again.
How amazing is our God? One month after the prayer meeting, I’ve received my bonus letter. The bonus I received was the very amount that I could clear off my debt with. On top of that, I was given a promotion and a 58% pay increment.
All of these added up to 15.9 months of bonus, with which I could finally pay off my debt and provide for my family! Praise the Lord! God truly works in ways that we cannot think or imagine.
Matthew 6:32-34 NIV
“For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Our Abba Father knows what we need and He is faithful. We do not have to worry but rather, seek Him first, and He will definitely supply all our needs! Amen!