With Unshaken Faith in Any Circumstance

On the first day at the training camp, I heard an announcement that a separate squad would be formed for trainees who were eager to work hard with clear goals, such as improving their physical fitness. I immediately volunteered. I wanted to live diligently while putting God’s will into practice and to learn from my fellow trainees each of whom had their own strengths. The trainees in our quarters all seemed diligent and capable. I was assigned the role of platoon leader trainee, but perhaps I was too eager—I made a mistake on my very first task. Even though we were all beginners, I found myself comparing myself to others who seemed more experienced, and I began to lose confidence. On top of that, the training schedule—adjusted to avoid the intense summer heat—ran from early morning to early afternoon, which meant waking up at 4 a.m. every day. Taking responsibility for so many people gradually became overwhelming.

I wondered if I should hand over my role to someone else, but since I had already taken on the responsibility, I decided to persevere and do my best. One thing I never neglected was prayer. Trusting that God would give me strength and ability, I would wake up during our short rest time after training to offer my regular prayers. One day, a fellow trainee who happened to be awake saw me and said, “You must be tired, but it’s admirable that you get up to keep your faith even when everyone else is asleep. That’s true faith.” I was grateful that even such a small action could bring glory to God, and it strengthened my resolve not to give up. With that encouragement, I worked even harder in the role I had been given. The trainees around me, as well as the drill instructor who had been observing me closely, recognized my efforts and encouraged me to keep up the good work. Before completing the training, I was given an opportunity to formally introduce my faith and the truth to everyone. During a self-introduction session in front of more than 200 trainees, I sincerely shared how my life had changed through my faith in God Elohim. After I finished and returned to my seat, my fellow trainees each said a few words to me, such as, “I didn’t know you went to such a great church,” and “You must have prepared your presentation really well.”

At my assigned unit, a new challenge awaited me—living with fellow soldiers who had enlisted one to five months earlier than I had. They taught me various rules of daily life, such as what to bring when washing up and how to do laundry, while closely watching to see if I followed even the smallest details. Although I was grateful for their guidance, it sometimes felt overwhelming as they pointed out everything I didn’t know and monitored my every move.

At times like that, I tried to remember the Teachings of Mother and maintain a positive mindset. I came to see this period as a process of inner growth. I accepted their words as advice meant to help overcome my shortcomings, apologized without hesitation, and humbly embraced their guidance. As a result, I felt more at ease, and I gradually improved in areas where I had been lacking. Little by little, their perception of me began to change. Those who had once been guarded started to lower their walls and open up to me. Seeing me attend worship every week, some even asked about the church and were willing to listen as I shared the truth of the Bible. Through this experience, I realized that even when situations do not unfold as I expect or feel unfair at times, I can influence those around me by remaining steadfast and putting God’s teachings into practice.

That change led to the saving of a soul. One junior soldier, who listened especially attentively to the words of the Bible once said, “I’ve visited other churches once or twice, but I was disappointed because they only talked about love, and I didn’t see it being put into practice.” I truly wanted to share with him how much God loves us and the covenant through which that love was fulfilled. First, I tried to reflect the love of Heavenly Father and Mother in my actions by always speaking kindly. When I shared the word, I did not simply speak on my own—I often asked for his thoughts as well. He said I seemed like a person of genuine faith and responded with sincerity. In time, he came to believe in Christ Ahnsahnghong—who fulfilled all the prophecies of the Bible—as the Savior and became a child of God. Afterward, he watched an introductory video about the Church of God and was deeply moved, saying, “I love seeing how you put love into action,” as he saw members around the world carrying out volunteer work. He continued to faithfully keep the regulations as well.

During my military service, my goal of putting God’s will into practice became a safeguard that kept me from being swept away by an unfamiliar environment and drifting away from Him. Although it was not easy to uphold that goal, I did my best in every moment, and along the way, I continued to receive blessings. As I walk the path of faith, even when things do not go as I wish, I will not dwell on unfavorable circumstances but press forward according to God’s will. I believe that God will surely open the way and, in the end, grant me His blessings.