Pray for this

[Dexter2020]

I thought of not showing up.

It would've been easier to disappear. To stay home. To let the noise win.

I agreed to speak at this panel months ago - way before a 45-second clip from my recruitment experience sparked an entire national conversation about Singapore's workforce and future. And made me the target of a lot of anger.

I didn't expect any of this.

The last two weeks have been hard. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impacted. Of course I was. There were moments I wanted to crawl into a hole and not resurface for a while.

But then I asked myself - what exactly am I running from?

At first, I asked God: Why is this happening TO me?
Then I reframed it: What if this is happening FOR me?

For a greater, common good?

How many people can say that 45 seconds of sharing their honest perspective - one I still stand by - ignited a nation-wide conversation that matters? A conversation about hunger. About drive. About what it takes to build a future worth having.

Maybe it's not a crisis. Maybe it's a privilege. Maybe it's both at the same time...

And here's the thing about valleys - they show you who your real friends are. When you're on the mountaintop, everyone wants to be near you. But in the valley? Only the real ones stay.

I will never forget the kindness shown to me these past weeks.

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Grateful to have shared the stage with ###, ### and ###. And ### - thank you for putting together such a meaningful event for ### and bringing us all together.

For the topic we explored together: "Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity." The irony isn't lost on me.

And to our moderator ### 曾依雯 - I need to say this. You held space for all of us in a way that went far beyond your role. You made every single one of us feel at ease, comfortable, and confident to share openly. I walked in shaky. I left feeling held. That's rare. Thank you for going above and beyond.

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To those who reached out, met me, prayed for me, showed up for me unconditionally - I see you. I'm forever grateful.

And to the ones who came at me with anger? I've decided to hold compassion for them too. Because hurt people hurt people. And I truly hope they find peace.

I'm still in a messy chapter. But I know it's just one chapter.

And I believe with every setback, God sets me up for something bigger.

So I showed up anyway.

Because that's what we do.

- ###

P.S. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

 

[Articles]

We hear the weight of your struggle, the exhaustion of being thrust into a storm you never asked for, and the courage it took to step onto that stage despite the noise. The enemy would love nothing more than for you to disappear—to let fear silence the voice God has given you. But you resisted that lie, and in doing so, you honored the One who called you. We stand with you in declaring that this trial is not without purpose. The same God who allowed the fire to refine you also promises to walk through it with you (Isaiah 43:2).

Your shift from asking *"Why is this happening to me?"* to *"What if this is happening for me?"* reveals a heart postured toward faith. Scripture reminds us that *"we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose"* (Romans 8:28). The conversation you sparked—about hunger, drive, and the future—is not accidental. It is Kingdom work, even when the world distorts it. The valley you walked through exposed the faithful few who stood with you, just as Proverbs 18:24 declares: *"A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."*

We rebuke the spirit of intimidation that sought to make you shrink back. The anger directed at you is not your burden to carry; it belongs to those who wield it. As you chose compassion over bitterness, you reflected Christ’s heart: *"Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing"* (Luke 23:34). This does not mean the hurt was justified, but it means you refused to let it define you.

Most of all, we celebrate that you showed up. That act of obedience—messy, imperfect, and human—was an offering to the Lord. He does not waste our pain. Every setback is a setup for His glory, and every valley leads to a mountaintop if we keep walking. *"I will lead the blind by a way they don’t know. I will guide them in paths they don’t know. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them"* (Isaiah 42:16).

Let us pray:

Father, we come before You on behalf of Your servant, who has faced a storm of scrutiny and yet stood firm. Thank You for the work You are doing in and through this trial. We ask that You would continue to strengthen their heart, reminding them that You are their refuge and fortress (Psalm 91:2). Heal the wounds inflicted by words and restore what the enemy sought to steal. Let the conversations sparked by their honesty bear fruit for Your Kingdom, and let their courage inspire others to walk in boldness.

Lord, we declare that no weapon formed against them will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). We bind the spirit of fear and release Your peace, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Fill them with fresh vision for the next chapter—one where You turn their ashes into beauty (Isaiah 61:3). May they continue to walk in humility, compassion, and unwavering faith, knowing that You are with them wherever they go (Joshua 1:9).

We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus, the One who overcame the world and calls us to do the same. Amen.

You are not alone in this. The same God who parted the Red Sea for Moses and shut the lions’ mouths for Daniel is fighting for you. Keep showing up. The world needs voices like yours—unshaken by the noise, anchored in truth. *"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven"* (Matthew 5:16).

 

[hostadmin]

Dear friend, we're here with you, cheering you on. It's amazing how you've turned a potential setback into a setup for something greater. You've sparked a national conversation about drive, hunger, and the future. That's no small feat! We're proud of you for showing up, messy and imperfect, but brave and honest. Remember, every valley leads to a mountaintop. Keep walking, and trust that God is with you every step of the way. "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:14) You're not alone in this. We're praying for you, and we believe in you. Keep shining your light!