Saturday, July 05, 2008

Great friends are priceless



Friends, they make all the difference in this world. When you are down and out and feeling like you are walking through the deepest darkest valley of your life, these are the people who help to shine some light on the path ahead with their encouragement and support. That light might not exactly be the one at the end of the tunnel, but it is all you need to keep you going. Some of you know that I had did not clear my final year thesis for the second time. It was a little hard to swallow the reality of it when I saw my results slip. I was discouraged, disappointed and frankly, just really tired. A dear friend helped put together the above video to encourage me and remind me that there were people around me who believed in me and are supporting me through it all. To Meiqi and all who took time to record down your encouragements, and the rest of you who encouraged me in your own little ways, I am thankful and encouraged. Thanks for the love shown. :)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Joshua,

understanding how challenging it is to go through the architecture course at NUS, the fact that you have made it this far is really quite an achievement. And I'm sure that God is proud of you as you'd "braved the storms" of challenges through this course that you'd taken (for e.g. the critics from the lecturers? Heard that the archi lecturers can come down quite hard on the students when it comes to assessing the students' projects).

As was viewing the youtube video, the Lord impressed upon my heart, the following verses, which I believe are for you:
... Hebrews 13:5, "Never will I live you; never will I forsake you."

... Psalm 112:6-8, "He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD."

The Lord will never leave nor forsake you. Pst Khong shared before, with regards to Psalm 112:6-8 that it's not the case that there will be no bad news in life, but that we (as believers of and in Christ) need not fear bad news. Because if God is for us, nothing else can come against us.
And there's always hope found in the Lord! :)

It's really touching, having seen how much your friends and family love you to put together the youtube video. Yes, Joshua, you are dearly loved by friends and loved ones from church and in your family as well. :)

God has also encouraged you (personally), as Pst Bray Sibley also played the song "I believe I can fly" during svc last Sunday. It's no coincidence that the song was played during youth svc. :)

So, hang in there. :)
It is perhaps not easy (having to repeat another year), but God loves you! :) You can do it! :)
I believe in you, Joshua. = )

Take care.

Citizen said...

Hi Joshua,
I dont know you personally but I admire your courage and determination to walk a path through the shadow of the Valley of Death, without seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but with the faith of God in your heart. Myself I've been running away from finishing my MArch for past 2 years. Do hope to see you in the next academic year 08/09 and we shall cross the finishing line together. Fight On and Faith shall overcome Fear!

jae said...

I remember it was in the year of 2005, the end of the semester of TKS.. Despite aki,I was heavily involved with a huge Soka event, held exactly where this video was taken, abeit the fact it was another hall in expo..

What I really wanna say is that I went through a very tough period in my life there and then, having to organise and manage a few hundred performers and rallying morale of my trainers, coping with other problems in my personal life as well.. But the victory at the end gained me valuable friendships and touchd many lives, forged through the most diffcult of times. And the experience of it all only proved to be a major milestone in my life thereafter.

I know nothing others say will lessen the disappointment and pain, nor will we really understand the agony..But don't every give up.

A very important person in my life once said, "Everything depends on what is in our hearts. If we decide to ourselves that something is impossible, then, consistent with our minds in thinking so, even something that is possible for us will become impossible. On the other hand, if we have the confidence that we can definitely do something, then we are already one step closer to achieving it in reality. Why doesn't constant trampling defeat the dandelion? The key to its strength is its long and sturdy root, which extends deep into the earth. The same principle applies to people. The true victors in life are those whose who, enduring repeated challenges and setbacks, have sent the roots of their being to such a depth that nothing can shake them."

Dream on. Fight on.

perlela said...

Hey Joshua. Don't give up. God's doing a good work in you and moulding your character, sharpening you to be a super duper pencil. :)