I want to share why I decided to get baptised.

For those who do not know what a baptism is, it’s a public demonstration of my faith in Jesus Christ who died for my sins. Baptism is being submerged into water, symbolising a death of my old sinful life and the beginning of a new life in Christ.

I was first spurred to get baptised during my final IB (International Baccalaureate) exams in Thailand, where my family has been living. Then, I was amazed at how God granted me calmness and peace before, during and after the exams. I was so confident I thought I could ace almost every exam, potentially getting more than 40 out of 45 points.

Before I got my results, I decided that no matter what happened, I would trust in God’s plan for me. I got 34 points. That was only just a bit above average. I was shocked, confused and  disappointed in God, but I held on to his promise.

I applied to NUS and NTU’s Environmental Engineering courses, hoping for a miracle. Enrolling into a local Singaporean university had always been a dream, but it would be hard to get into. A few friends told me to retake my IB exams, but I really believed my results had a purpose, so I remained steadfast.

Soon, I returned to Singapore to serve my National Service. I had never left my family before for such a long time, and homesickness naturally took an emotional toll. However thanks to my World Revival Prayer Fellowship (WRPF) cell group, I was able to get my life back on track.

I had found another family. I was grateful to the WRPF church community and my cell group for welcoming me. I was always touched by the depth of their sharing and the dynamic worship. I even had a family to stay with and to encourage and help me in my spiritual walk.

One day, the church prayed for me with regards to how I felt about my army situation. I was frustrated because my training in camp consisted of watching movies every day. I thought it was a waste of time. I came all the way here to protect my country – not to be entertained. I was getting impatient.

During the prayer, one of my cell members had a vision for me. He said that a pearl came into his mind. A pearl is made over time when a grain of sand embeds itself into a mollusk. A truly mind-blowing transformation.

That was the first time someone had a prophetic vision for me, so I was doubtful. Could that just have been a product of his mind? I returned to camp a few days later, and there a motivational poster grabbed my attention. It was a picture of a pearl with a caption next to it:

“Most of us can afford to take a lesson from the oyster. The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this: Irritations get into his shell; he does not like them and tries to get rid of them. But when he cannot get rid of them he settles down to make them one of the most beautiful things in the world. My friends, if there are irritations in our lives, today there is only one prescription: A pearl called patience.”

I knew God was speaking to me then, confirming the vision. I also knew I couldn’t escape National Service, so I decided to change my attitude and be patient. It taught me that these 2 years of service were a trial – a test of patience – so I needed to rethink how I looked at NS.

I knew God had a plan for me, so as I awaited my university results I reflected on this verse:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

A few months after enlistment, I got a reply letter from NUS and NTU about my applications. I was rejected by both. I was crushed because I felt God had let me down. I was so fearful not knowing how the future would pan out after finishing my NS. I began to look up foreign universities, but I knew that would really burden my parents financially.

I was so impatient with God, desperately wanting an explanation. Yet by His grace, I was accepted to NTU when I applied a second time the following year. I’m still amazed how they accepted me with only 34 points. This is when I decided I really wanted to be baptised and publicly declare my faith in Jesus Christ.

In retrospect, the year of trial tested my patience, faith, and helped me grow in my spiritual walk because I became desperate to know His will for my life. Thank God I was not accepted by the universities at the first application. God wanted me to be more desperate for Him.

In every phase of life, there are problems of its own, yet I am actually excited for each trial to come. Because as long as I have faith in Jesus Christ, there will always be more to gain than to lose.

This article was first published on World Revival Prayer Fellowship website and was republished with permission.