In Faith, Spread Our Wings and Fly High

While the Ascending 2023 message is exhilarating, the exter nal circumstances are still full of challenges. We have to believe that God rules and reigns and follow Him by faith. There will surely be a way out amid all the turns and twists.

However, life is not always rosy even when God reigns. Instead, we should lay down ourselves, trusting God reigns in all circumstances even in the depth of the valleys. Even though there doesn’t seem to be light on the financial situation and pandemic, we still choose to keep following Him, receiving hope in the Truth.

It has been three years since the social movement in 2019. To many young people, external circumstances have never stopped going down – they are frustrated and disappointed facing the downturn of Hong Kong’s economy, hard work and friends emigrating. These are true feelings. Tim, our youth co-worker was also once very disappointed at society, finding church teachings dubious. Hence he was truly divided in heart. Yet, he chose to trust God, embarking on the Love and Trust way. Finally, he has come out from the wilderness, bringing also young people out of the darkness.

At the end of last year, Tim, joined by the Youth Army co-workers, was prompted to organize a marketplace youth camp. It was to bring back a group of young working adults who had lost hope in the marketplace and the city back to the tree of life where they could encourage each other and be healed in love. They were all willing to establish a true relationship in love and trust and respond to God’s calling and be used by God in any circumstance. Thank God that the community has ascended in the Lord!

As we are under tree of life, we do not fix our eyes on economic data or news analyses when we face storms. Rather, we follow God closely in love and trust. In one Sukkot, we did the drama, “King of Love” which reminded us that there had never been a perfect system in the world. We are to look upon God just like Peter who didn’t look at the storm but Jesus to break through all the restrictions of the environment. Though there are still challenges ahead, God reigns in heaven and over the earth and we are blessed only when we follow Him.

Dear brothers and sisters, the eagle doesn’t strive to fight against adversity. Instead, it spends more time resting and then soars on wings in the wind. Our hope is in the Lord and let’s follow Him in faith and experience the promise of Ascending 2023 in rest!■【2023.01.29】