Last summer, a student opened up to me about a struggle. This student wanted to accomplish so much for the gospel, yet never felt qualified to do so. In truth, that struggle was one I knew well. I had once felt exactly the same way.
Back in my school days, a new dream sprang up in my heart almost every single day. I wanted to become a writer-prophet whose gracious words would save many souls. I also dreamed of becoming an overseas missionary, preaching God’s truth in places where the gospel had yet to be preached. After going through a brief period of wandering in my faith, I even dreamed of becoming a pastoral staff who resembled the love and compassion of God. Sometimes, I lay awake at night imagining myself playing a leading role in the work of the gospel.
Yet, compared with those big dreams, I felt so small. At times, I wondered if my ambitions were too great. I grew discouraged, comparing myself with others and dwelling on my own shortcomings. At times like those, I needed to remember that in God, we are strong even when we are weak. The weaker I was, the more I came to rely on God—and the more opportunities I had to become strong through Him. To those of you who feel the same way today, I’d like to say this: Don’t let your circumstances discourage you. Dream big.
Back in my school days, I would head to church with a spring in my step on the first Sabbath of every month. It was the day the latest issue of SOUL came out. SOUL and I were closely connected. Spending my free time reading it strengthened my faith and kept me from falling into temptations that could harm both my body and mind.
At first, I was content with simply reading SOUL. But before long, I found myself thinking, “I want to try submitting my own story.” As soon as school ended, I would rush straight home and begin writing. Reading the pieces written by other members also taught me how to put the inspiration in my heart into words. The joy I felt when my story was finally published in SOUL was beyond words. Afterward, as I thought of our Heavenly Father, who left His love for us through the Bible and the Truth Books, I began to offer a specific prayer:
“Please allow me to become a writer-prophet who proclaims Your love through gracious words.”
As time went by, I attended the Youth Transition Gathering. There, a brother saw my name and struck up a conversation with me, saying he recognized it from SOUL. He told me that, as a fellow student, he had related to my writings and found comfort in them whenever he felt discouraged. I was taken by surprise, but at the same time, I was grateful to God. Before I even realized it, God was making me into a writer-prophet. He blessed me with the opportunity to serve as a student reporter, and I even went on to major in creative writing.
Meanwhile, I looked up to the older young adults who were pursuing their dreams around the world. Watching them inspired a second dream in my own heart: to become an overseas missionary. Judging by my circumstances alone, that dream seemed far out of reach. English was the only foreign language I knew, and I wasn’t even very good at it. On top of that, I also faced financial challenges.
Those weren’t the only obstacles. As soon as I entered university, the COVID-19 pandemic began. Overseas mission work was out of the question, and even activities within Korea were restricted. Feeling frustrated, I would sometimes walk around an empty athletic field, thinking, “Maybe I’ll never have the opportunity to preach the gospel overseas,” as I swallowed back my tears.
Yet, even the longest tunnel eventually comes to an end. While I continued working part-time and saving money, international travel resumed. Without hesitation, I left to study abroad in Eastern Europe. On the first day of the semester, I arrived on campus full of excitement, but I couldn’t bring myself to step through the main gate. Surrounded by tall, blue-eyed locals, I felt intimidated. The thought that I was alone in a foreign country, and I’m the only Asian student on campus made me lose heart. So whenever I walked through the university gate, I repeated these words to myself: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Jos 1:9).
Those hardships were part of the journey that led to God’s blessings. As time passed and I began taking part in various activities with my heavenly family at the university, my life abroad became joyful. With God’s help, I felt as though I had become an overseas missionary, boldly revealing His glory on campus.
As I continued following God and receiving the blessings He had prepared for me one by one, I was grateful to be given the opportunity to be in charge of the Student Group. From time to time, I met students who felt overwhelmed by their busy daily lives and had grown discouraged. It saddened me to see their dreams—meant to be the wings that would help them soar—become heavy burdens weighing them down instead.
From home to school and back home again—when we’re caught up in the same routine day after day, it’s easy for our view of the world to become narrow. Compared with our great dreams, we may sometimes feel small and weak. Whenever that happens, don’t forget that we are children of God, who governs the entire universe. I hope you will broaden your perspective and step boldly out into the world.
Go forward with the confidence that, with God, you can do anything. Before you know it, your dreams will have become reality. I’ll always be cheering you on, too.