PURPOSE IN UNCERTAINTY

BY PR EVANGELINE CHEONG

Chinese New Year is around the corner and with that, the questions that relatives ask while we eat melon seeds together: What are you going to study? Where are you going to work? When are you going to find a boyfriend? I am always ready for these questions, but the times when I was searching for purpose and meaning in life, answering these questions was very hard! It seemed like I had to justify my choices in life, that I was useful and productive or at least socially acceptable in their eyes. I knew that they loved me and wanted me to be happy, yet their questions implied that if I found a right and good purpose in life, I would be happy.

This past year has thrown much into uncertainty and flux. Many had to rethink their purposes in life after retrenchment, some had to find meaning in a new job scope that they did not sign up for, while others had to see what they worked hard for suddenly disappear overnight. A few saw purpose, meaning and happiness flee away under the cloud of depression. Do the purpose given to us as God’s children have to fly away when things around us change? No!

May the words of this Puritan prayer entitled “Happiness” align us to God’s eternal purposes that truly bring eternal happiness. 

O Lord, help me never to expect any happiness from the world, but only in Thee.
Let me not think that I shall be more happy by living to myself, for I can only be happy if employed for thee, and if I desire to live in this world only to do and suffer what Thou dost allot me.
Teach me that if I do not live a life that satisfies Thee, I shall not live a life that will satisfy myself.
Help me to desire the spirit and temper (state of mind) of angels who willingly come down to this lower world to perform Thy will, though their desires are heavenly, and not set in the least upon earthy things; then I shall be of that temper I ought to have.
Help me not to think of living to Thee in my own strength, but always to look to and rely on Thee for assistance.
Teach me that there is no greater truth than this, that I can do nothing of myself.
Lord, this is the life that no unconverted man can live, yet it is an end that every godly soul presses after;
Let it be then my concern to devote myself and all to Thee.
Make me more fruitful and more spiritual, for barrenness is my daily affliction and load.
How precious is time, and how painful to see it fly with little done to good purpose!
I need Thy help:
O may my soul sensibly depend upon Thee for all sanctification, and every accomplishment of Thy purposes for me, for the world, and for Thy kingdom.

(From: Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions)