Have you ever reflected on your reactions and what you did when you encountered ongoing difficulties at work? Most of us would focus on what we were unable to achieve, we might despair as negative thoughts cloud our minds, and our hearts are conflicted. Oftentimes, we need to remind ourselves that God uses circumstances and incidents to mould each of us into the person He wants us to be. We do things not because we want to please others, nor is it to achieve our own ultimate purposes. All this pales in significance when compared to the grand plan that God has for us. In this aspect, Stanley has learnt a valuable lesson and let us continue to hear his story.

In late 1998, Stanley attended a dinner at a Bible institute in Singapore. During dinner, a newly acquainted friend walked over and invited Stanley to attend a course at the headquarters of the Bible institute in Maui, in Hawaii. Stanley had been seeking the Lord for a ministry to focus upon so he was pleasantly surprised. He accepted the invitation. A few days later, he flew over to Maui to attend the training course titled: “Christian Leadership & World Evangelism” with 38 other Christian leaders from 21 strategic developing countries. There, Stanley discovered that the list of church leaders waiting to attend the training courses at the institute was about 5-7 years long. Some 2000 people were still on the waiting list to attend. Stanley was deeply grateful; indeed, it was a God-send that his new friend on his own initiative as prompted by the Holy Spirit, invited Stanley for the one-month course.

Stanley had a great time of fellowship with the trainers and the 38 attendees. Towards the end of the course, a participant would be elected to give a summarized presentation. A secret ballot was held and to Stanley’s surprise, he was nominated. As most of the leaders at the course were more experienced than he was, Stanley initially declined. Hence, Stanley was nick-named “Jonah” as he, like Jonah, was reluctant to accept God’s assignment. Even with the prayers and blessings of the trainers and the other participants, he was still very apprehensive.

During the last week of the course, they spent their leisure time play-wrestling in the swimming pool. While wrestling, a Christian brother accidentally twisted Stanley’s left shoulder. It was so bad that he screamed in pain. The Christian brothers brought him to the side of the pool and tried to comfort him and all prayed for him. The pain was excruciating. Unfortunately, it was late in the day and the earliest he could get to see a doctor was the next morning. Poor Stanley had to bear with the pain throughout the night. First thing in the morning, a Christian brother accompanied him to the hospital where a scan showed that Stanley had dislocated his left shoulder. However, besides painkillers which would knock Stanley out for five hours, no other medical treatment could be offered. Stanley was brought back to the institute and the Pastor-in-charge told him to rest as he went in search of another speaker to replace Stanley for the final presentation.

While Stanley was resting in his room, he heard a voice saying: “Everybody knows you are hurt. You are in pain, just take the painkillers and go to sleep. Nobody will mind. Everybody will understand.” But Stanley also heard another voice saying: “No, you are the chosen one.” Struggling with the two conflicting voices and in terrible pain, Stanley wept. Stanley’s room-mate, an Indonesian pastor, came to look for him and upon seeing his distress, prayed for him and wept with him too. Stanley then asked the pastor if he could get the choir to sing for him as he was feeling very depressed. Stanley thought perhaps the songs would help to lessen his despair. But then, a small voice spoke to him; “The choir will not come, you have to deal with Me alone, you have to wrestle with Me just as Jacob did.”

Genesis 32: 24-28 says,

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”

Soon, Stanley’s roommate returned to the room. Before he could say anything, Stanley told him that he knew the choir was not coming. The pastor was surprised and asked how Stanley knew. Stanley told the pastor that God had spoken to him. The pastor then prayed with Stanley and then left the room for choir practice as they were singing for the night event.

Stanley wrestled with God for about 4 hours alone in the room until he felt release and victory when God told him repeatedly: “You are the chosen one.” He called the pastor-in-charge and told him that he would do the final speech. The pastor was surprised and in fact thought that Stanley had taken the painkillers and had gone to bed. The next few hours flew by as Stanley prayed for God’s guidance for the topic of his speech. Besides the trainers and the 38 brethren, the institute also invited local church pastors and leaders for the occasion.  When the evening event began, he put his hand in a sling and joined in the celebrations. When Stanley was invited onto the stage, he still did not have a proper speech prepared. But as he walked to the stage, God told Stanley: “I have already given you the message – the incident at the swimming pool, your struggle, depression and your wrestle with Me in the room and finally the victory.” So Stanley did so and the speech was very well received. During the speech, Stanley raised up both his hands in victory. All eyes were fixed on Stanley as he continued to gesture expressively with both hands. He grew more enthusiastic as he spoke and his hands and arm gestures were in animation. God had healed Stanley’s torn left shoulder during the speech without him knowing! Hallelujah! At the end of the sharing, all 38 brothers rushed towards Stanley to hug and rejoice with him. They thanked him for sharing God’s message for them.

From the training in Maui, Stanley learnt not only about world leadership and evangelism, but also about the struggles of Jacob and Jonah as they too wrestled with God. Stanley was reminded that these struggles are no less real in our modern world. The pain and the healing of Stanley’s torn left shoulder was for a purpose, to God’s glory. The lesson learnt is brokenness before blessings.

Back in Singapore, under God’s guidance, Stanley took six months off work to lecture at the Marketing Institute of Singapore to students from China. Besides caring about how they were doing in their academic studies, Stanley also invited them to his home on Saturdays for home cooked dinners and relaxation, to play games, listen to music and for Bible study. This Chinese group grew and at times, some 50-100 Chinese professionals and students gathered at Stanley’s home during weekends. Through the gatherings, many people came to know and surrender their lives to Christ.

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Stanley: Many times, we cannot cope with burdens being put on our shoulders solely based on our own strength. I dislocated my left shoulder and God healed me miraculously. His timing is perfect; it encouraged me and at the same time declared to all others that He is God, our Lord. We shall all submit and surrender before Him.”

Isaiah Chapter 40 verse 31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Amen.”

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As we travel on life’s journey, we may feel tired and weary from time to time. Friends, Stanley’s story today shows that even in times of weariness, struggle and pain, as we wait patiently for the Lord, we will be renewed with strength. May the God who healed Stanley and gave him strength, heal you and me, so that we are renewed in Him and can soar on wings like eagles.