28 Feb & 1 Mar 2026 (Pastoral Page) HELD SECURE IN CHANGING TIMES

by Ps Lai Keet Keong

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Hebrews 6:19

Dear friends, as we continue our Lenten journey this week, I found my heart needing some extra quietness lately. Perhaps it is the weight of the past months and the challenges faced, drawing me to reflect on what the future holds in light of the past and present.

Recently our Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered Singapore's Budget 2026 statement – a record $154.7 billion plan to navigate what he described as a "changed world". He spoke of harnessing artificial intelligence as a strategic advantage, launching new national AI Missions to transform key sectors like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. There was news of our PM making a special visit to Malaysia last week, meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to strengthen the close bonds between our neighbours. And alongside these big national conversations, there were also personal touches – the $500 CDC vouchers for every Singaporean household, the cost-of-living special payments of up to $400 to help with daily expenses. It is clear our leaders are working hard to build a future that is secure and thriving.

Yet all this future-focused talk can make one feel unsettling. You may wonder: Will my job remain secure in an AI-driven world? Can I keep up? How do I prepare for such uncertainty? Beneath these lies a quieter question: Who is truly in control?

These are honest questions, and they matter to God. He invites us to bring them to Him, like a child climbing on a parent's lap with all their worries. You see, when life feels unstable, our instinct is to grip tighter – to work harder, worry more, and try to control every little thing. But eventually we grow weary. The sea is rough, and our boats are small.

Here is where God’s love reaches out to us. The writer of Hebrews gives us a beautiful picture. He says hope is like an anchor for our souls. But here is the wonderful part: this anchor does not drag us down or tether us to the scary things happening around us. No, this anchor is cast upward – all the way into the presence of God Himself. It is “firm and secure” because it is fastened not to shifting circumstances, not to economic forecasts or geopolitical tensions, but to the unchanging heart of the One who loves us and holds our future in His hands. This indeed is our comfort and our confidence.

My dear friends, surrendering to God is not about giving up. It is about letting go of the heavy oars of worry and letting His love hold us steady. It is about looking at the waves – whether they are about AI disruption, rising costs, or family pressures – and saying, “Lord, I cannot calm these on my own, but I trust You in it.”

And here is the beautiful assurance: when our souls are anchored in Him, we actually become freer. Free to learn and grow, not from fear, but from a place of confidence that our worth is not tied to our resumes or our ability to keep up with every new technology. Free to pray for our leaders as they engage with regional counterparts, asking God to grant them wisdom, discernment, and compassion. Free to love our neighbours, to strengthen the bonds in our families and churches, and to be people of peace in a sometimes-noisy world.

Prime Minister Wong noted that sound public finances enable decisive action and wise investment. How much more can we trust our Heavenly Father, whose resources are limitless, and who has already given us what matters most? God is not surprised by rapid change. He is already ahead, preparing the way for us.

Faith for the future is not about having all the answers. It is about knowing the One who does. It is believing that the same Jesus who calmly slept through a raging storm is right there with you in your boat. And He is not sleeping now. He is with you. He sees you. And He's got you.

So during this Lent, dear brothers and sisters, as you read the news or plan for tomorrow, remember that you are held. You are loved. And your hope is anchored in Someone who will never, ever let you go.