This photo I’ll never forget.
It’s of my mom, just days after her surgery, hugging my son tightly. Her smile is full, her eyes are shining, and she said through tears, “This was the best birthday of my life.”
Every time I look at that photo, it feels like more than a memory — it feels like a testimony. It’s a snapshot of God’s faithfulness: three generations wrapped in one embrace, living proof that His hand never leaves us.
For more than twenty years, Malaysia was home. It wasn’t just where I worked — it was where our life was built. My career grew with one company; friendships deepened into family. It was there that Renu, the boys and I found Christ, grew in faith, and became part of a church community that truly loved us. Life felt beautifully complete.
Then, without warning, things began to change. The same boss who had once believed in me and shaped my journey began to tear me down — questioning my abilities, undermining my confidence, and undoing years of trust. It was a heartbreak I didn’t see coming.
We prayed, wrestled, and tried to understand what God was doing. But deep down, we felt a stirring — a quiet sense that perhaps, this chapter was closing.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6
Even before we made the decision to move, God had already gone ahead. A senior leadership role opened up in India — one that felt tailor-made for my experience and passions. It was exactly the kind of opportunity I would have hoped for, yet it came without striving or searching. Looking back, I see now: God was already preparing the next step long before we took it.
Leaving Malaysia was still painful. We were leaving behind a life we loved. But when we landed in India, God’s fingerprints were everywhere — from our children being accepted into a wonderful international school, to finding a warm, vibrant community that made the transition feel seamless and made us feel like we are in Malaysia. We knew we were exactly where we were meant to be.
Then, out of nowhere, another storm hit.
But God wasn’t done showing His power.
One night, my mom had a dream — a moment so clear and purposeful that it still gives me chills when I think of it. In the dream, a person gently guided her hand, as if showing her where to check. She reached toward her right side, but the voice said softly, “No, it’s on the left.”
She woke up startled but calm. Remembering every detail, she placed her hand exactly where she had been shown — and there, she felt a lump. We took her for a check-up right away, and that’s where the doctors confirmed the tumour.
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. It felt unreal — as if, after everything we had just rebuilt, the world had tilted again.
It was caught early — just in time. That dream wasn’t coincidence; it was divine intervention. God Himself had guided her. A quiet whisper from heaven that saved her life.
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
— Hebrews 11:1
In that moment, everything became clear. Our move back to India wasn’t just about my career — it was about being here when my parents needed us most. God had realigned our lives for a purpose we could only understand in hindsight.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
— Jeremiah 29:11
Even Renu’s story came full circle. Years earlier, she had lovingly cared for a sister battling a tumour, never knowing God was gently preparing her for this very moment — to walk beside her mother-in-law with strength, compassion, and grace.
“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
— Ephesians 2:10
And that brings me back to that photo — my mom holding my son, beaming, saying, “This was the best birthday of my life.” It wasn’t just a celebration; it was a victory. A moment that said, “God did this.”
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10
“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.”
— Psalm 138:8
Looking back now, I see how God worked through every detail — the pain, the transition, the uncertainty — weaving it all into something beautiful. He never abandoned us; He was simply repositioning us. His plans were greater than our understanding, and His timing was perfect.
That photo reminds me every day:
Faith doesn’t mean life goes as planned.
It means even when life changes completely, God’s love never does.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness that carries us through every season — the joyful, the painful, and the uncertain.
When life turns in ways we don’t expect, remind us that You are already ahead, making a way.
Thank You for miracles that happen quietly, for dreams that save, and for love that restores.
Strengthen our trust in You, and let our stories reflect Your goodness and grace.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
