Do you ever wonder about the timing in your life? While some situations could not possibly happen at a worse time, other events align just perfectly. Even when timing goes unnoticed, it is because of the seamless transitions which hide alternative consequences. In addition, various timelines are produced from both unpredictable events as well as choices we actively make, but to what degree one makes a difference versus the other is sometimes unknown. My mind often goes back and forth from questioning what more I could have done to prevent or allow something to trying to accept that I will never foresee all possible outcomes.

This was the case for me during my exchange in Australia. I struggled with constant regret over unaccomplished tasks, missed deadlines, and pestering thoughts of what-ifs because I knew I could have done more. I was upset at myself for something almost everyday. I felt like I kept “messing up” the timing of how things are supposed to be because of my slow and indecisive personality, and I worried that in my daily life, I was ruining God’s plan for me and so preventing Him from showing me what He wants for and from me.

Later on when I was riding the train to Katoomba, a thought suddenly popped into my head: God’s plan for me takes my personality into account. He designed the course of my life having already taken into consideration how my flaws and mistakes may interfere with it; He knows me better than I know myself. He is patient with me. Through realizing how broken I am without Him, I have finally come to understand that His grace was already and will always be enough. My mistakes still have consequences, but out of love for me, His grace extended to cover them all.

Even though I missed the deadline for on-campus student housing, I found residence from a family who only lived a 10-minutes walk away from the church I was attending. Even though I missed out on the Sydney Walking Tour, I bumped into two friends from Melbourne who I explored the city with that evening. Even though I missed out on meeting up with my friend from Vancouver and then visiting the Hillsong Church near her, I got to visit the Hillsong Church Hills Campus instead and met a group of lively, passionate students there. Just when I thought I ruined everything, He reminded me that I can still trust in Him, the One whose mercy and power redeems all.

Even now when I reflect on my university years, I see God’s grace throughout. If I had joined SFU’s Cheerleading Club any earlier or later than I did, I wouldn’t have met my close friend in university. If I had gone on exchange any year before 2017, I wouldn’t have been able to go on a field trip to Tasmania with my exchange classmates because it wouldn’t have existed yet. If I had graduated in five years instead of six, I may already be in the workforce by now, but I would have had one less year of schooling to figure out my passions. My post-grad life would have also been different because of the alignment of timing – the people I grew close with, the lessons I learned, the experiences I went through, and the time I had for self-discovery. When doing my Professional Development Program for teachers at SFU, I had the opportunity to go through the extra semester of foundation-building that did not exist for students in previous years too. It humbles and amazes me to know that God’s timing surpasses my limited, human knowledge of how timing even works. His plan is greater than any great human plan could ever be.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9


(Taken on Princes Bridge, Melbourne)

Read part 1/3 and part 3/3 of the biggest lessons I learned on exchange.