Dr. Tan Tek Seng

DAILY REFLECTION
18 May 2026

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." 
Proverbs 3:5-6

After the funeral of my ministry partner, Prof. Dr. Paul, in January 2023, I entered one of the darkest and most overwhelming seasons of my life. Overnight, the entire responsibility of leading Tyrannus Online Seminary (TOS) fell upon my shoulders—a burden far heavier than I had ever imagined carrying alone. The sudden loss left not only an emotional void, but also a ministry crisis that seemed impossible to overcome.

Without access to his computer passwords, many critical documents, records, and essential information became unreachable. At the same time, financial pressures intensified as outstanding debts mounted and creditors repeatedly demanded payment. Yet I could see no clear solution and no visible path forward.

The challenges did not end there. There was no administrative team to assist, no faculty support to rely on, and very limited resources to sustain the daily operations of the seminary. Humanly speaking, everything pointed toward failure. Fear, uncertainty, and helplessness surrounded me, and I often felt emotionally exhausted and completely lost.

In that painful season, I learned what it truly means to cry out to God. When every human option seemed to disappear, I desperately sought His wisdom, strength, and direction to guide me through the darkness. What once seemed like an impossible situation became a deeper journey of dependence upon Him.

During those difficult days, Proverbs 3:5–6 became a living anchor for my soul.
These verses reminded me that life is not sustained by human ability, personal wisdom, or favorable circumstances, but by the sovereign hand of God. There are seasons when our own understanding fails, when logic cannot provide answers, and when human strength reaches its limit. Yet it is often in those very moments that God teaches us to trust Him more deeply.

Many people desire God’s guidance while still holding tightly to their own control. But true faith begins when we surrender our fears, uncertainties, and limited understanding into His hands. God sometimes allows difficult seasons not to destroy us, but to draw us into deeper dependence, stronger faith, and greater spiritual maturity.

Proverbs 3:5–6 teaches us that God’s guidance is not merely about leading us out of adversity; it is also about shaping our character, refining our trust, and fulfilling His greater purpose through our lives. When we choose to trust Him wholeheartedly, even in seasons of pain and uncertainty, we will eventually discover that His ways are always higher, wiser, and far more faithful than our own.

"Worry is blind and cannot discern the future, but Jesus sees the end from the beginning."