By Ruth Yong Wang Theen
Growing up in a Buddhist family, Evelyn Teo had a reverence for faith. Yet, God felt distant and impersonal. Religion was part of culture, but it was not a relationship. That changed one Christmas when a friend invited her to church.
“I went out of curiosity, but from the moment I stepped in, I felt something different, warmth, joy, and a love I could not explain.”
She returned the following Sunday. During worship, tears streamed down her face. The message felt deeply personal, as though it was speaking directly to her heart. When the altar call was given, she sensed a clear invitation, not into religion, but into relationship.
“That was the moment I said yes. I accepted Christ as my Saviour and Lord,” she shared.
Looking back, she recognises grace in that simple invitation. What began as a casual visit became the beginning of a living and personal faith, one that would later anchor her through seasons she never anticipated.
When doors close
The years following the COVID pandemic brought an unexpected storm. Career instability, financial uncertainty, and rapid technological changes created a season of discouragement.
“I sent out resumes and attended interviews, but door after door closed. With each rejection, my confidence weakened,” she recalled. As industries evolved with new software and artificial intelligence tools, she began to question whether she could keep up, whether she was still capable or relevant.
Adding to the challenge, she lives with epilepsy, a condition she has carried since young. During this vulnerable period, insecurity magnified her fears.
“The voice of doubt whispered that my condition might limit my future. It was not just a battle about career. It was a battle about believing in myself and trusting God,” she said.
One interview remains vivid in her memory. The interviewer was professional yet kind. Although she did not receive the position, the conversation felt less like rejection and more like direction. Evelyn was encouraged me to upgrade her skills and prepare for future opportunities.
In hindsight, she believes it was a divine appointment. Even in disappointment, God was attentive to her heart. At home, her prayers became honest and unfiltered.
“Lord, why are the doors not opening? Am I not good enough?” In the stillness came a gentle reassurance: it is coming, just wait.
Those words became her anchor.
Fortified by the Word
During that season, Scripture moved from familiarity to necessity. She clung to Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
The verse redirected her focus. Instead of striving to control outcomes, she learned to seek God first and trust that He would provide in His timing.
Romans 8:28 strengthened her resolve: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
This assurance reminded her that nothing was wasted. Even the waiting had purpose. When anxiety pressed in, Philippians 4:6–7 became a daily prayer: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
She chose prayer over panic. In ways she cannot fully explain, peace guarded her heart.
Living with epilepsy led her to 2 Corinthians 12:9: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
That verse reshaped her understanding of strength. Weakness was no longer disqualifying. It became the very place where God’s power could be displayed.
Through Scripture, she discovered that faith is not merely about receiving answers. It is about deepening relationship.
Peace in the waiting
Her journey was not marked by constant spiritual highs. There were tears and moments of silence. There were prayers whispered in exhaustion.
“I prayed morning, afternoon and night because I needed His strength.” Worship became a refuge. Songs of praise reminded her that God was near, even when circumstances remained unchanged.
She learned that God’s presence is not always dramatic. Sometimes it is the quiet strength to continue. Sometimes it is peace that steadies the soul. Even in silence, she believes God was shaping her, refining patience and deepening trust.
Looking back, hardship revealed more of God’s character than comfort ever could. “It taught me that God is good, faithful and greater than any situation,” she admitted quietly. His timing did not always align with her expectations, yet she now sees that it was never random. What once felt like rejection became preparation.
Faith matured in that tension. It became less about immediate breakthroughs and more about steady trust. Less about visible success and more about inner transformation. “What I once viewed as a struggle, I now see as God moulding me, making me stronger, humbler and more trusting.”
Shaped by grace
This journey has changed her deeply. “I have become stronger, more positive and more confident, not in myself alone, but in His guidance.”
She intentionally pursued discipleship and spiritual growth. Gratitude became a daily discipline. Even with ongoing uncertainties and her medical condition, she chooses to give thanks, for both blessings and lessons.
Rather than defining her by limitation, epilepsy reminds her of grace. Rather than defining her by rejection, closed doors remind her to trust.
Her faith today is steadier, not because life is easier, but because her foundation is deeper.
To women facing uncertainty, her encouragement is simple and sincere: “You are not alone. Hard seasons do not define your worth or your future.”
Faith, she has learned, is not about having all the answers. It is about trusting that God is guiding each step. She urges women to reach out for community, to be patient with themselves, and to remember that growth takes time. Sometimes, she says, God is shaping and testing us to strengthen our faith. Hardships can turn into purpose.
Her testimony is not one of instant success. It is one of steady transformation. It is a reminder that spiritual maturity often grows quietly in seasons of waiting.
In a world that measures progress by open doors, her life offers another perspective. Sometimes when doors close, God is building something deeper within. And that unseen work is never wasted.
