5 Things Bedbugs Have Taught Me

Well well, you might be scratching your head and wondering what could these little, infectious bugs teach me?


While bedbugs are notorious for it's drive-you-up-the-wall-bites for the constant itch and the beautiful scars they leave behind, the emotional stress you have to go through every morning when you find a new bite and religiously applying insect repellent every night hoping it would shoo the bedbugs away are some real catalysts for stress.

Basically they are thieves of joy, patience, time and money.


Before I continue rambling about bedbugs and leave some of you questioning on my love for this topic and whatnot, here's a little background story-


My roommates (aka housemates) and I have been infested by bedbugs since April '15. After having 7-8 treatments by the pest control, visiting the doctors regarding the bites 3 times (the doctors were amazed by how huge my bites were), having done a million times of laundry, having to pack everything up for the treatment... etc.


Basically, it was a nightmare. It's easy to look back and type this right now; but even so, the thought of going through this again scares me to the core. To cut the story short, we had no choice but to move out as some of the other units at the apartment were infested by it too.

But wait, moving out?! Really?

School has just started and the moving in/out season has way passed and it seemed to be almost impossible for us to get a suitable apartment. How is it possible to even get a unit that caters for all our needs at this off season for apartment hunting? Walking distance to school with great condition and within our budget. Not to mention, we're most likely will be fined for breaking our lease from our brilliantly ridiculous landlord. And being the earthly sandpaper that she is, dealing with her requires immense amount of patience and wisdom.


So, moving out and finding a suitable apartment? Really?


"Ha. Impossible." I thought to myself.

Realistically speaking, it's really pretty impossible. However, there's a little voice that tries to fight back whenever I have this realistic thought.


"So, this is how big your faith is huh? Are you doubting God's ability in this?"


Whoa whoa whoa, hold it up right there. When did I ever say that? I'm not doubting God's power or anything.. but look, it's pretty silly to think that we'll ever have a great option that caters for all our criteria and what more, even better than that? Ha. You gotta be kidding.


After having several battles within myself, I do admit that I was struggling to put my faith in God. I was overwhelmed by all the practical facts that I have forgotten that I was believing in an absolutely sovereign and faithful God that has performed countless of miracles since the very first day.


Being ashamed of how little my faith was, my thoughts were quickly changed to-


"Okay God, the harder the situation, the more glory You'll get from the situation. Alright, You got this. I can't do anything, but You can"

So we spent two whole weeks of contacting agents and viewing potential apartments. It was nonetheless tiring and time consuming, noting that school has already started. We've finally come to a point of choosing between two apartments; which both of them were pretty decent.

To cut the story short, we quickly decided to take the apartment where 3 of us had a great feeling about it. Apparently love at first sight still exist.

The greatest part?

It's even nearer to school compared to our old apartment.
Normal walking speed= 2 minutes, speed walk/ run= within 1 minute

It's in an absolutely good condition.
Newly renovated, all electrical appliances are new. Heat and A/C works perfectly.

Cheaper rent.
Well, just $5 cheaper. But.. still.

Dang. Really?

Wow. I must say miracles do happen.


After researching and consulting people about some legal terms to deal with my landlord (about breaking the lease), and guess what? She simply said yes without giving us any trouble and we didn't have to pay any fines for that. The best part? She sounded pleasant and nice for the very first time. Although to be really honest, I was pretty bumped about it at the same time as I'm all prepared to talk some legal terms with her but I didn't even have the chance to do it.


I was pretty mind blown after the phone call. Knowing that God takes care the tiniest details makes me wonder, how much more does he takes care of the bigger, greater things in our lives?



Now finally, it brings me back to the title of this post:


What have bedbugs taught me?


1. Live in the moment

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:34

No doubt the fear of uncertainties is real, and it's hard to control to how you feel. Since you can't change the situation by worrying and stressing, why not taking one thing at a time? You're not a superman, or any kind of superheroes whom is capable of completing everything in a day. You're given 24 hours daily. How things might turn out is not within our control, but we could certainly control how we live through trials. Choose joy over stress, choose to be thankful over complaining.

2. Embrace vulnerability 

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

How often that we're defeated by our own egos? All the time. Do people know that it's okay to say "I'm not okay."? We have flaws, we are weak and we're certainly not perfect. Cause we're only human beings after all. Putting a strong front and pretending everything's alright is ultimately a sign of egoistic. On our side, we're constantly saying, "I got this. It's all good." while we're actually spiritually, emotionally drowning and helplessly screaming for help. On the other side, God's asking, "Why don't you allow me to help you, my dear child? All you have to do is ask." I've come to learn that being vulnerable isn't a sign of weakness, it's an open door for me to have total dependency on Him; and having God's power and glory to be glorified through me.

3. Step of faith

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 

Hebrews 11:8 "

I adore Abraham, I really do. I admire his faith. How on earth can he has so much faith in God?! Looking at his life, being the father of faith he is, his life is truly filled with incredible miracles and testimonies. When I was looking back at this whole experience, I couldn't help but to notice how everything started from a step of faith. Without having that step of faith of breaking the lease and finding an apartment in such a short time, we'll never be able to step into our Canaan land. Fear and uncertainties are common factors of withholding us from inheriting God's blessing by not stepping out in faith of our comfort zones. Even without seeing the complete picture, Abraham obeyed. Faith means actively acting upon it, even if it requires us to embrace uncertainties. One thing that we know for sure, in the Bible it says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6


4. Importance of community

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." 

Hebrews 10:24-25

God really opened my eyes to see how important community and friendships are through this incident. We're not meant to do lives ourselves, we're meant to do it together. Truly experienced how God could use all sorts of people to help and contribute in ways according to their own individual strengths. Incredibly blessed and thankful for all the prayers, advices, help and support from all the people whom are seriously like angels. I might have said it multiple times, but if you're one of them and you're reading this, do know that your help is greatly appreciated and no matter how big or small your help was, please know that it has greatly impacted us in a positive way :)

5. Joyful Heart

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

I gotta admit this is a heck of a lesson to be learned. How in the world can you be thankful when you're in a situation where you don't see hope? I vividly remember there was one night, I was frustrated, annoyed, stressed, and the itch from the bedbug bites were driving me insane. Sitting on my chair, in tears, being as vulnerable as I could be, I asked God,


"What else can I do? I've done every possible thing and it's clearly not working out. I tried to see things in Your way, Your perspective, but it's so hard and I can't do it. What else can I do?" 


Almost immediately, I was reminded of this verse. "Give t-th-the whaat..? Give thanks in all circumstances?" Walao eh, you kidding or what? 你开什么玩笑？Applying it in this situation is waaaaaaaay harder than I actually thought it would be. After calming down and having a clearer mind, I've noticed that being thankful in this situation has helped me to shift my negative thoughts and to refocus on God. I've also learned that how we react on trials reflect of our perspective and relationship with God. Do we choose to be thankful for the struggle, for it's yet another opportunity for God to reveal His faithfulness and mightiness; or do we choose to drown with disappointments and bitterness?



All in all, it was really an interesting journey to experience God in many different ways. God has been so faithful, as always. I'm thankful for the setbacks, obstacles we had to go through for in return, lessons were learned, relationships were strengthened, God's love, mercy and favor were definitely present throughout.


I didn't understand the purpose of going through this whole incident while I was in it. Taking a step back, looking back at the whole incident, I have come to realize that:


As dots are starting to join, doubts are starting to clear, events are starting to connect; I see nothing but grace. If there's one thing that's constant, it must be God's grace. While people and things may change, God will never change. He is constant yesterday, today and forever.

"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." Romans 8:28

Be Still? Is that even possible?!

I always believe that the reason why testimonies are so powerful because they are simply real.

And the reason they are real is because God is a living God. (Can I hear an Amen?)


God has opened my eyes and showed me what "Being still" meant months ago and I was completely mind blown by it. (and still am)

When I thought He was done on this topic, He then opened my eyes into seeing things on a completely different level. (Yeaaah, life with Jesus is always exciting.)



You gotta admit that we're living in a crazy world.

Fast, busy, intense, stressful.
That pretty much sums up how people are living their lives now huh?

Let's be real for a moment, shall we?

We're extremely spoilt to have everything instant. Everything fast.


Fast Wifi.
Fast food.
Instant noodles. (Oooohhh how I've missed maggie goreng)

..... the list goes on.


We often found ourselves complaining about how slow something is.

"Mann, the Wifi is super slow today."

"Why is it taking soooo longggg for my food to arrive?"

"It takes FOREVER for my (Forever 21) package to arrive." (No pun intended :P)


But really, how do we even define slow?

How do we even define "It's not happening?"

When are things will finally fall into place?



W h e n ?



Everyday, we have never ending questions to think about. Haunting us day and night.


A million questions of "What if.....", "What's next....?" "How.....?" "When......"

"He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 

 Psalm 46:10 

Imagine someone saying that to you when you're fully occupied with decisions after decisions, options after options.


..... be still and know that He's God?


Come on, how is that even possible?

Being still in the midst of uncertainties and knowing that He's God.....?

I don't know about you, but it's a tough lesson to learn right there.



Have you ever had that experience where you constantly praying for something and God keeps saying the same thing?

"Be still and know that I am God"


What does it really take to be still?



I'll never forget how God showed up and teaching me this on a whole new perspective.



I was in my room doing devotion. It was one ordinary day. But hey, extraordinary things will miraculously happen when God's presence is present.


I vividly remembered seeing a vision:-


3 very clear alphabets: I L L

There were a few alphabets before the "I L L " but it wasn't clear.

I didn't understand what was it straight away, but I kept praying for God to show me what it meant.

Few days later, it was as if a light bulb was lighted.


It was the word "Still". However, it was clearly separated: ST   ILL 


Before I go on and explain why was it separated, I think it's equally important for us to know that the word "Still"derived from a Hebrew word "raphah" which means "let go", "surrender",  "let yourselves become weak".


Isn't it fascinating to see how that word weighs so much?? Well, that, was an eye opener for me.


Let's start with the 3 "S'"

1. Sovereign
It means absolute power, unrestricted, supreme, unlimited. (Refer to the later part of the verse, "know that I am God"). It's essential to know that He's in control of all things and all things are possible through Him.

2. Surrender
Simply admitting that we are weak and He's strong. Remember "surrender" and "let yourselves become weak" are part of the definition of "raphah"? Being vulnerable, surrender and putting our ultimate faith onto Him.

3. Steadfast
Our God is a steadfast God. He's loyal. He's faithful. He'll certainly let His promises come to pass in your life. When Jesus says "Yes", it means "Yes".


You've probably guessed it, T will be no other than-

Time.
Just how many times we want things to happen in our time? Our selfish, inpatient selves would want things right now. You might want it now, but God might not have the same plan as yours. He'll only make things happen in His timing. Yep, only in His timing. 


Without the 3 S' and T, it will be left with -ill. 

We'll be spiritually, emotionally or even physically ill.


When we're drowned in a pool of uncertainties that life throws at us, be sure to know that God's always there to say

"My Child, I've got this. I knew you before you're even born, do you not trust me? Do you not trust that I've got a plan for your life? A plan that's specially written for you and only you."


What really spoke to me for the past week was these 2 verses:-

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:6-7

"Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." 

Isaiah 40:26 

...wow, did you see what I see?

Are you serious? The King of Most high knows the number of hairs I have when I myself am not sure of?!

If He knows the tiniest detail in your life, does He not know your desires and needs, my dearest brothers and sisters?

I can't explain how incredibly loved I felt when I first read this a couple of days ago. Like hey, if God cares the T I N I E S T detail of your life, does he not care about the bigger, greater things in your life?


I immediately was ashamed of my faith.

Couldn't I trust God on His timing?

Who else can I count on when I can't even wait on the One who created me?




I often would secretly thought to myself,

"Did God forget about this....? or..... ?" 



Let's see what the bible tells us about:-

"God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?"

 Numbers 23:19

When God promised us something, He'll fulfill it in His timing. 


There's absolutely nothing can stop God from making certain things from happening if it's His will.


The God who created the universe, the God who created you and me is the same God who cares for the tiniest detail of your life.



I don't know what season of life you're going through right now.

It may be difficult to walk this journey of faith.

God sees every tear, every broken heart, every struggle.

I'd like to believe that the harder your obstacle, the greater the testimony.




Instead of saying "Why is this happening, God?"

Choose to say, "I can't wait to see how are You turning this situation into a testimony."



Instead of asking "When, God?"

Choose to say, "In You, I'll trust." 

"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I left up my soul." Psalm 143:8