How do you feel so alone in a city that is considered one of the busiest city in the world?
Maybe its because loneliness doesn’t describe the state of one’s environment, but the mental state of one’s self.
For the past four years, I’ve never felt like an outsider. People that I’ve met, in church or in Uni, took me in, welcomed me into their homes, opened up to me about their lives. They cared for me, not like a foreigner, but like family. Because that’s what relationship within a church is like – family. The church becomes an extremely important global family for foreigners around the world in a new place. It is of such comfort to know that there is a family wherever you go. You may not know them, but that’s the joy of Christian union. It’s the warmth of family without borders through the blood of Christ.
After a meeting to sort out my visa, I was on the train ride back into the city and my heart felt so heavy, I felt so alone in this world. In that moment, I felt like an immigrant, I desired a home and I did not like feeling that way. I wanted to go home, I longed for a place where I'm not considered an immigrant. And I longed for Christ’s return. It was at that point when I've probably felt what it meant as Christians to be exiles and foreigners in this world. I felt like a foreigner in this place where I've grown so comfortable in. but yet, it was such a reminder that it is only temporary, that there is a home, a perfect home with the Creator to come one day.
The hope of everlasting praise and glory to the King, where nothing is broken, no tears of hurt and pain, where Christian exiles and foreigners can truly belong. Each day, I find myself longing for it, desiring Christ and being comforted that God will never leave nor forsake those He loves.
Through my trials, I've learnt to trust Him, to understand the need for the tough times, because where is growth but in difficult times?
A brand new chapter awaits and it is exciting to see what it will bring.
Hannah
