Before I became a Christian, I thought I was humble. I carry myself like a normal guy who takes pride in working hard in order to achieve the goals that he has set out to accomplish. This was the impression I had of myself prior to receiving Christ.
Over the past several months, I have grown much closer to God. I have learned a lot about what being a humble and modest person means in God eyes. I realized that I am not even close to God’s of standard of humility. Before I started reading the Bible and understanding Christianity, I thought that everything I achieved in my life was a result of my hard work and dedication. If I spent a lot of time preparing for an interview, I knew I was going to perform well. Similarly, if I spent plenty of time studying, I knew I was going to do well on the test. Usually, my philosophy worked. It wasn’t until I moved to the Bay Area that I started doubting this philosophy.
During April of last year, I took a new job in my field. Everything seemed perfect on the outside, but over time, I realized that not everything was rosy on the inside. As I dealt with issues at work, I would seek counsel from close ones. I remembered one conversation with Louise Choi, who I expected to simply listen to and agree with my frustrations. After I shared my thoughts with her, she said, “Winston, you are a very proud person, and you have a hard heart.” I was stunned.
After this conversation, I had some time to reflect. For all of my life, I had depended on myself. I listened to my own voice, and ignored God’s. That alone is arrogance and selfishness. God knew I was facing challenges at work, but rather than seeking out an answer from God, I decided what I would do it alone. After this “aha” moment, I began to seek God out. I poured my heart out to God and asked Him for guidance.
Through this experience, I have started learning what it means to submit to God. God has showed me what He wants me to do, and He has made things better for me in His own way. God was the one that did all of this.
When Winston visits Pasadena from the Bay Area, he attends LAC and is blessed by the community here. He is thankful for the things he has learned here and will continue to visit as much as he can.