From Anger to Compassion

During my O’ level years in secondary, I grappled so much with anger and being short-tempered. On top of this, I often ended up in needless arguments because of this character.

Petty things like classmates taking my eraser or drinking from my water bottle without asking would annoy me. Towards the climax of those years in lower secondary, deep inside, I increasingly became concerned with this attitude I had allowed to grow in me.

?At the end of Form Four, I attended a teenagers’ camp organized by my church. By then, the pattern of becoming vexed easily was one I really wanted to break out of. In my childhood years, I had heard a lot about Jesus Christ; I had even raised my hand in church before to give my life to Him. Although I did this, it had never really sunk in because I didn't understand why I needed Him. Now, at the camp, when the invitation came again, I raised my hand again, except this time round, it was real. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I could feel a genuine transformation beginning in my life.

Through A’ level and later at campus, I was aware of some real changes, and my anger issues were one of them. They started reducing, and I began genuinely hearing them out, putting their views first before airing out mine. God also grew my empathy for people so much that on many occasions, my friends felt safe opening up to me. That gave me opportunities to share and remind them about the truth of God’s Word and point them to His love.

One day, during a discussion, one of my friends said an anger provoking statement to me that made my other friends react to it. But I remained positive during the discussion as she stepped out of it. Afterwards, I looked for her and asked her what the problem was as I gave her a listening ear. She had felt guilty about what she did, but I deliberately looked for her to clear the air, and understand her emotional context, all while telling her about John 15:13; my life's vision scripture.

?If I had not given my life to Christ, I would not be like this today! The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus Himself said that we would face persecutions and trials in this world. Sometimes showing empathy to people can be so challenging, but the truth of knowing that one day there will be no more pain and tears (Revelation 21:4) gives me the hope and drive to keep showing it. Ephesians 2:8-10 reaffirms in me that when I die, I surely will have eternal life because it's purely by faith, not by any works!