Introduction: Although he strove with all his might, his achievements could not be compared with those who gained them effortlessly. Every year, he was more committed to God than before, but it seemed that the challenges grew with each year.

Since we began broadcasting this programme, we have received numerous messages from the listeners about the job difficulties that they face. Through prayer, the sharing of professionals, one-to-one coach counselling sessions and other methods, we advise our listeners and cheer them on as we confront the tough workplace issues together. However, will the issues be solved after we have laboured to the best of our abilities?

Not necessarily. In fact, despite some of us working laboriously, our lives and our work are still beset with difficulties.

Why is this so? Truthfully speaking, we don’t have a definite answer for it.

Recently, Jeremy’s tears flooded several platforms. Who is he? I thought, even if we didn’t watch basketball competitions, most of us would have heard his name. Isn’t this true? This renowned world-class basketball player shared the testimony of his professional experience at a recent meeting. He was so overwhelmed with emotions that he could not utter a word…Why was he so upset?

Jeremy Lin Shu Hao was born in 1988. In his high school days, he led the school team in competitions. They achieved good results. It foreshadowed the rise of a basketball star. However, after entering the NBA in 2010, Jeremy’s career in basketball was tough. There were numerous reasons. Other than external injuries, racial prejudice was an important factor.

In 2012, a few of the key basketball players in the team were injured so at the crucial moment, Jeremy, who was once overlooked, was given a chance to play in the basketball competition. The results were excellent. He went on to have a seven-game winning streak for his team, bringing about a cultural phenomenon known as ‘Linsanity’. Against this backdrop, the manager of NBA Rockets, Morey, said: “Even though Jeremy is outstanding in sports, a lot of basketball teams, including mine, do not intend to sign the contract with him. Every of us thinks that he is not a sports talent…however, apart from the fact that he is Asian, I cannot find a reason that proves it otherwise.”

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Dear friends, Jeremy possessed distinguished abilities. However, many people in the basketball field did not think well of him because he is an Asian. How would we feel if we were in his shoes?

Jeremy did not give up. When he encountered difficulties, his favourite words were “It’s alright.” He once missed the chance to compete because of his injuries but he exclaimed optimistically: “It’s alright. It will be different next year.” Even though his basketball skills were making tremendous progress, the team reduced his time competing in the match in order to nurture new players. He said, “It’s alright.” He shared that it was God’s grace that he could still continue with basketball after he had stopped playing it for more than 500 days because of his injury.

However, this time, he cried in front of the people even though he usually looked at the bright side of things and appeared strong. He shared that the past 9 years of career had been long and strenuous.

During his early years with the Houston Rockets, he assumed responsibility as the foremost key basketball player. Later, he became a reserve. He clinched basketball player contracts based on his abilities. It was unexpected that when the season started, his contracts were nullified and he missed the basketball season. After his recuperation, he joined the Toronto Raptors. He could have displayed his talents in 12 to 15 matches, but for this period of time, he plunged into the lowest point of his career. He missed 17 three-pointers consecutively. Soon, he didn’t have any opportunities to play in the games and was sidelined…

During the NBA finals, the Toronto Raptors emerged as the champions in June 2019. He only played for one minute in the finals, but created new records. Not only was he the first Chinese basketball player to win an NBA championship in the NBA finals, but he was also the first Harvard graduate to win it. He held the NBA championship trophy which many basketball stars desired to have.

Some friends sneered at him, saying: “You aren’t worthy to obtain the NBA championship! You are fortunate to have won it without even lifting a finger…” He even publicly confessed that “I am not worthy.”

After the season was over, he attempted to persuade himself to overcome this hurdle and stand up again. Later, NBA teams recruited basketball players based on the ‘free market’ strategy of recruiting their own teammates. This made it worse for him.

On 1^st July, when NBA’s recruitment in the free market was opened for 6 hours, various teams had already spent almost US$3 billion in the competitive recruitment of basketball players. Jeremy felt extremely lonely because no one asked about him even one month later. At a sharing session, he exclaimed despondently: the NBA does not want me!

He thought of giving up.

Life was difficult. Every year, I was committed to God more than before, but it seemed that the challenges grew with each year. It was said that when you fell into the valley, you could only climb up from it. As for me, the valley grew deeper every year.

We had already striven with all our might, but things deteriorated instead of getting better. We sought for God’s guidance but still moved from one valley to another deeper valley…

Dear listeners, have you experienced such moments of absolute darkness at your workplace or in other areas of your lives? At the sharing session, when Jeremy invited those with such experiences to put up their hands, many of them did so.

Yes, this was the reality of life. The difficulties that we encounter cannot be lessened because we are Christians. The key question is how to overcome these obstacles. Some commented online that Christians should not be distressed over such worldly things. What about you?

Jeremy Lin is a Christian who is very serious about his faith. Being a prominent figure, he publicly declares his Christian faith. Every year, he shares his testimonies and spreads the gospel at public meetings. However, will Christians who trust in the Lord wholeheartedly have successful and smooth careers? Or will those with firm beliefs in their faith always be strong and joyful in all circumstances? What is our identity when we come before the Lord?

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We are the children of God. How do we speak to our parents? Firstly, we should be frank and honest, right? If a child is upset about an issue and afraid of saying the wrong things that will cause displeasure to his parents, he would put up a brave front and say, “No problem. I’m alright!” In doing this, he hopes that he will not get a beating or be reprimanded by his parents. His loving parents will be extremely upset upon seeing such a response, as their child is evidently fearful. He doesn’t believe that his parents would accept his weaknesses and that their parental love is greater than his weaknesses.

Dear friends, aren’t we children of God before the presence of our heavenly Father? Who isn’t weak? Who is righteous or a hero? When we come before God in prayer, we should not be afraid of uttering the wrong words and be punished, or conceal our true selves if we know that our heavenly Father has already accepted us the way we are.

Jeremy Lin did not avoid sharing about the hurdles at his workplace. At the meeting, he was choked with emotions and said: “If God wants me to sob on the stage, I am willing to. If He doesn’t want me to be a basketball player, but to share about my failures on stage in order to have a greater influence on others, I am willing to.”

Thank the Lord that he was a person who readily said, “I am willing” to the leading of God!  His glorious moments in the seasons might be over, but we believe that as a child of God, his best times in life are ahead of him.

Jeremy Lin: I have a lot of emotions swirling in me – negative emotions such as anger and perplexity. However, I aspire to be a role model to all of you, that is, never to give up on God. If the next basketball season is worse, I hope to have the courage to return again next year and convey the same message. I will stand here to work hard and persevere with all of you. I will continue to run the same race in life.

Although he strove with all his might, his achievements cannot be compared with those talented basketball players who gained them effortlessly. He said without a tinge of sadness: “Maybe I can never become who I want to be.” He let out audible sighs several times and added: “Life is tough.” There were painful moments, but Jeremy believed that it was the work of God. He put it across with conviction: “God will not let your pain be in vain. This is the underlying reason that He has placed you in the wilderness. He wants you to be more Christ-like.” Dear friends, God refines and shapes our lives through the desert experiences.

Having participated in the professional basketball league in America, Jeremy faces more competition than we do. The conflict between his faith and reality is greater. When he encouraged others at the meetings, he was also encouraging himself. We should continue to hope regardless of whether we are on the mountaintop or in the valley. We place our difficulties in the hands of God, who reigns in all situations. Jeremy Lin said: “If I didn’t have a loving relationship with my God, I would have resigned to fate long ago. It is God who has provided me with the strength for a breakthrough in times of trials.”

Dear friends, you are not alone if you are stuck in life. We need to give our tears to God rather than keeping them to ourselves!  Remember what Jeremy Lin said when he shouted in the valley. His words resonated loud and clear: Don’t give up! Don’t compromise! Don’t give up hope! Even if we have to drag our feet, we should strive to take a step forward daily!

I hope Jeremy’s Lin’s story is an encouragement to you.  Join us next time as we discover more about living for Christ in the workplace on “Workplace Strategy.”